The Leavenworth County Attorney’s Office was informed Friday morning that David A. Espinoza was recently found deceased. In light of Espinoza’s death, the sentencing scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026, did not occur.

A Leavenworth County jury on Jan. 13, found Espinoza guilty of 16 felony counts following a two-day trial. Espinoza was charged in a complaint filed May 12, 2025, with 21 crimes involving the same victim. The jury convicted Espinoza of 12 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and four counts of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The convictions stem from offenses that occurred between September 2019 and January 2020. Following the jury’s verdict on Jan. 13, prosecutors asked the court to take Espinoza into custody immediately after the conviction. The judge declined that request and allowed Espinoza to remain out of custody pending sentencing.

The guilty verdicts included counts 5-10 and 12-17: Aggravated indecent liberties with a child and counts 18-21: Attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on five counts — three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and two counts of rape.

According to court documents, the female victim reported on May 1, 2023, that she had been sexually abused by Espinoza over a period spanning several years. She told investigators the abuse began when she was about 9 years old and occurred at multiple locations within Leavenworth County.

The investigation involved the Eudora, Lawrence and Tonganoxie police departments and Sunlight Children’s Services.