An illegal immigrant has been handed a life sentence after admitting to the rape and impregnation of a 9-year-old girl in Ohio.
The man, Gerson Fuentes, 28, received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving 25 to 30 years, in accordance with his plea deal. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender.
Mr. Fuentes, originally from Guatemala, confessed to raping and impregnating the 9-year-old Ohio girl, who lived in the same residence as her attacker. The case became a national flashpoint on abortion because she traveled out of state to end the pregnancy.
The girl’s family “begged” Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch to accept the plea deal, and not issue a sentence without the possibility of parole—a sentence Mr. Fuentes could have faced if the case had gone to trial.
Although the plea agreement did not necessitate approval from Ms. Lynch, she acknowledged that the family of the victim pleaded for its acceptance. Ms. Lynch expressed her difficulty in accepting the deal, considering the court’s strong stance against the violation of young individuals.
“Anyone who’s ever been in this courtroom for the last 20 years knows how this court feels about these babies, young people, being violated,” Ms. Lynch said. “However, today, by the request of the family, this court will be sentencing without comment.”
The judge refrained from further commentary and proceeded with the sentencing out of respect for the family’s wishes. By reaching a settlement prior to the trial, the survivor will be spared the emotional burden of testifying in court.
In a previous interview with Telemundo, a woman identified as the girl’s mother denied the allegations against Mr. Fuentes, claiming his innocence. She also stated that her daughter was doing well at the time. Local resident Daisy Torres later revealed to Telemundo that the woman was in a relationship with Mr. Fuentes and was expecting a child with him.
Zachary Olah, Mr. Fuentes’s attorney, told The Columbus Dispatch that his client cooperated throughout the legal proceedings.
“He was anxious to get this resolved,” Mr. Olah said.
The Epoch Times contacted Mr. Olah for further comment.
Doctor Disciplined for Disclosing Abortion
This case gained national attention when Dr. Caitlin Bernard from Indianapolis disclosed on May 25, 2022, that she performed an abortion on a 10-year-old child who had traveled to Indiana due to Ohio’s ban on the procedure upon detection of a fetal heartbeat.Since the Supreme Court’s June 2022 ruling that returned abortion decisions to the states, around 25 states have banned or restricted abortions, with many of these laws currently under litigation.
In May, Indiana’s Medical Licensing Board took disciplinary action against Dr. Bernard, determining that she didn’t abide by privacy laws when she told a newspaper reporter about the abortion. However, the board rejected accusations from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita that Dr. Bernard violated state law by not reporting child abuse to Indiana authorities.
The attorney general’s request for Dr. Bernard’s license to be suspended was rejected by the board, and no restrictions were placed on her medical practice. They fined Dr. Bernard $3,000 for the violations.
Rokita hailed the disciplinary action, highlighting that Dr. Bernard received “the maximum civil fine for violating three counts of privacy laws and received a public reprimand to go into a national database.”
Dr. Bernard defended her actions, telling the board that she notified hospital social workers about the child abuse according to Indiana’s reporting requirements and hospital policy. The doctor’s lawyers said that she didn’t release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws.
The Epoch Times contacted Dr. Bernard for comment.
Franklin County prosecutors said the girl, who was aged 10 when she underwent the abortion, confirmed that Mr. Fuentes assaulted her. DNA testing of the aborted fetus provided conclusive evidence that Mr. Fuentes was the father.
The girl detailed the assault to Columbus Police officers during a forensic interview conducted on June 23, 2022, according to Columbus Police Department detective Jeffrey Huhn, who revealed the information in Franklin County court.
Mr. Fuentes confessed to the crime during an interview with detectives from the Columbus Police Department last year.
Since his arrest, Mr. Fuentes has remained in custody without bond. If he eventually secures parole, it is likely that he will face deportation, as authorities have found no evidence to support his legal presence in the United States.
