Rapist Gets 15 Years, Deportation
Stepfather is also ordered to pay cost of girl's counseling
By Linda Thomson, Deseret News staff writer
Originally published in the Deseret News, July 10, 2001
A man who had sex with his stepdaughter for more than two years—and got her pregnant twice—received the maximum prison sentence Monday and will be deported from the United States when he is released. The girl was 12 when the sex abuse began.
"This is just a horrible way to behave," 3rd District Judge Sheila McCleve told Teodoro Jesus Gonzalez before sentencing him to 15 years to life in prison.
"Mr. Gonzalez, I don't believe you have any comprehension in the least about what a horrible thing you did to another human being in taking advantage of her the way you did," McCleve said.
The judge also ordered Gonzalez to pay any counseling costs for the victim and reimburse the state for extradition expenses incurred after he fled to California.
Gonzalez, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of rape of a child, a first-degree felony, as part of a plea agreement that spared the victim from testifying.
He originally had been charged with two counts of rape of a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, also a first-degree felony.
"This is just an awful case," prosecutor James Cope said later. "This happens lots and it happens often. The little girl is afraid to tell anybody, and he had great power over her."
Cope said that when the girl was pregnant the first time in 1999, she apparently miscarried at home when she was four or five months along and the baby's body was buried. Police later recovered human fetal remains in a bag wrapped in boxer shorts.
The second time Gonzalez got the girl pregnant in 2000, he took her to an abortion clinic and lied to staffers there to arrange an abortion, according to Cope.
During the sentencing, defense attorney Ed Montgomery said his client understands what he did was wrong and is sorry for what he did. A pre-sentence report recommended a 10-year sentence, but Montgomery argued for a six-year prison term and deportation. However, Gonzalez—who does not speak English—seemed to hesitate in court when asked by the judge several times about his remorse.
McCleve said the pre-sentence report said Gonzalez had indicated that he did not think he was entirely responsible for the sexual activity. "Tell me: Were you enticed or were you responsible?" McCleve finally asked.
"Yes, it is my responsibility," Gonzalez replied through an interpreter.
McCleve also spoke at length to the victim, now 14, telling her that she was not to blame for what had happened and that that Gonzalez is the criminal who abused his position of trust and power.
"I'm sure there will be hard times for you, overcoming memories," McCleve told the girl. "It is not your fault. It is not your fault in any way."
