Jose Manuel Ayala, 18, Pleaded Guilty In Statutory Rape Of Girl, 12

POSTED: 4:55 am PDT April 4, 2012
UPDATED: 6:22 pm PDT April 4, 2012

VISTA, Calif. -- An 18-year-old Escondido man who admitted raping a 12-year-old girl over a several-month period last year was sentenced Wednesday to a year in jail and four years probation.

Jose Manuel Ayala pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to statutory rape.

According to evidence presented at his preliminary hearing, Ayala and the victim had consensual sex beginning last September when he was 17 and she was 12, ending when he was 18 and she was 13.

Even though the two had feelings for each other, the sexual relationship was inappropriate, said Deputy District Attorney Judy Taschner.

During a preliminary hearing, the victim initially said Ayala forced her to have sex with him.

The girl later admitted during cross-examination that she lied and said she and Ayala were in love.

According to the district attorney, the girl lied because she did not want to get in trouble and didn't want her family to think bad of her.

Escondido police said Jose Manuel Ayala was in the process of being deported for an immigration violation when he was arrested last October. Taschner said the defendant still has an immigration "hold" placed on him.

Vista Superior Court Judge K. Michael Kirkman ordered Ayala to stay away from the victim.

Man Guilty Of Rape Statutory Sentenced - San Diego News Story - KGTV San Diego