CT-Man convicted, kidnapping, sex-assault case,12 yr old
Man convicted in Milford kidnapping, sex-assault case
By Frank Juliano Staff writer
Updated: 10/08/2009 07:09:40 PM EDT
MILFORD -- A Mexican citizen was convicted Thursday of kidnapping and attempting to sexually assault a young girl in a local hotel as he was smuggling her into the country.
The six-person jury found Francisco Pascual, 26, who had been living in Maryland, not guilty of two counts of sexual assault, but guilty on all of the underlying charges. He was convicted on two counts each of kidnapping, attempt to commit sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, along with one count of unlawful restraint.
Pascual, in a white dress shirt and gray slacks, showed little emotion as the verdicts were read. The jury deliberated less than four hours over two days before reaching a verdict at 11:30 a.m. The trial in Milford Superior Court began Sept. 30.
The girl, now 14, testified that Pascual broke the zipper on her jeans attempting to remove them as he forced himself on her in a Hampton Inn room on Dec. 30, 2007.
She fled and sought help at a Boston Post Road service station, and later received medical treatment at the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital.
Pascual had allegedly smuggled the girl and about 10 other people into the U.S., but the two were alone after the others were dropped off in New York City.
The immigration status of the defendant and the victim remained unclear Thursday. State's Attorney Kevin Lawlor said that Pascual will serve his time in a Connecticut prison.
The girl, now living in the Boston area with her family, has applied for a visa to remain in the United States, Lawlor said. "It's up to the federal government and I don't know whether she'll be allowed to remain. I certainly hope so; if there is anyone who deserves to stay, it's her.''
Defense lawyer Mark Solak had hammered away at inconsistencies in the girl's story, and in what he said was police handling of Pascual's arrest.
Solak said after the verdict that he expects a pre-sentencing investigation to turn up information beneficial to Pascual. "There will definitely be an appeal,'' the lawyer said. "I will discuss that after the sentencing.''
Judge William Holden said that he will impose sentence on Pascual on Dec. 3. He remains in custody on a $2 million bond. The defendant faces a maximum of 115 years in prison if the terms for all of the crimes are imposed consecutively, Lawlor said.
The prosecutor said that he is satisfied with the verdict. "A lot of the credit goes to a young girl who came in to testify,'' he said.
"She has faced a lot in her life.''
http://www.connpost.com/breakingnews/ci_13514574
