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Illegal immigrant convicted of kidnapping 12-year-old




05:10 PM Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Maricopa County Attorney's Office

PHOENIX - The following is a press release from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office:


Ismael Mayorquin (DOB 8/17/61) has been convicted of Kidnapping, a class 2 felony following week long trial. This is the third time the defendant targeted a child.

According to the probable cause statement from Phoenix Police, Mayorquin pulled a 12-year-old girl into an alley in October of 2007. As the girl struggled with Mayorquin, a man driving by saw what was happening, confronted Mayorquin and called police. Officers arrested the defendant a short time later.

As prosecutors researched the case, they learned that on two previous occasions Mayorquin attacked unsuspecting female teens in a similar manner. One of the incidents happened in Phoenix. The other happened in California. Both happened in the 1980’s.

It has also been established that the defendant has four prior felony convictions in Arizona and one in California. He has also been in and out of federal prison for immigration violations. Records show he had been deported at least twice in 1990 and 1993.

Mayorquin’s criminal record includes three separate convictions for Robbery, and two separate drug related convictions. The last conviction occurred in 1997 and he was released from the Department of Corrections in 2004.

On February 10, 2009 a jury convicted Mayorquin. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2009 and he faces 10 to 24 years without the possibility of early release. Deputy County Attorneys Gina Godbehere and Beth Humm prosecuted the case. They are seeking the maximum sentence.

[b]County Attorney Andrew Thomas stated, “The defendant was able to illegally cross the border and commit crimes seemingly at will. That fact that he has a history of targeting children is especially disturbing. That’s why this office considers the illegal immigration crisis to be a matter of public safety.

Those who oppose enforcement of our illegal immigration laws are giving criminals like Mayorquin the motivation and the means to continue to come into this state and commit crimes.â€