Illegal Immigrant in Md. Gets 20 Years For Sex Crimes


November 11, 2010 - 12:49pm

A 29-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico convicted of sexually abusing a 9-year-old Frederick girl will get to stay in the United States for at least the next 10 years -- behind bars.

Ordered by Judge G. Edward Dwyer Jr. to serve 20 years of a 40-year sentence, Gerardo Cervantes Mendosa will be deported once his sentence is complete. But he won't be eligible for parole for at least 10 years.

"What you did to her was horrendous, horrible and terrible," Dwyer said Wednesday in Frederick County Circuit Court. "She will suffer from that for a lifetime."

In September, Mendosa chose to plead guilty to two crimes instead of facing seven charges at trial. He pleaded guilty to sex abuse of a minor and second-degree sex offense between June 1 and Nov. 20, 2009, according to court documents.

In court Wednesday, Assistant State's Attorney Lindell K. Angel said Mendosa gave a handwritten statement to Detective Mark Pecor of the Frederick Police Department.

He admitted to having three different types of sexual contact with the girl, and he told her if she was ever questioned about what happened, to blame his actions on someone else, Angel said.

Defense attorney Loyd Byron Hopkins said Mendosa, a severe alcoholic, was remorseful for his crimes. "As a first-time offender, he will pay a very heavy price," Hopkins said. "He is not a bad man."

Through an interpreter, Mendosa apologized to the mother of his victim; the victim did not attend court.

"I am really sorry for what has happened," Mendosa said. "I am sorry for what I did. I understand I am going to prison."

Dwyer warned Mendosa not to return to the United States for at least five years after he is deported. Because he is an illegal immigrant, returning would constitute a violation of his five-year term of probation.

The court then could order Mendosa to finish the suspended portion of his 40-year sentence, not including any federal penalties.

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