Immigrant pleads guilty to rape

Todd Hill,
September 18, 2015





BUCYRUS — A Hispanic immigrant who was living in Galion until he was charged with rape in May pleaded guilty to the crime Friday morning during a lengthy proceeding in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.

Maximino Hernandez, 52, who had been in the U.S. for less than a year upon his arrest, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Judge Sean Leuthold. The crime, a first-degree felony, occurred when Hernandez was working as a dishwasher at El Tarasco restaurant in Galion.

“I believe justice was done. The victim is extremely happy with the outcome. Even more importantly, this was done without a trial, which protects the victim,” assistant county prosecutor Ryan Hoovler said.

In addition to the 10-year prison sentence, one year less than the maximum term allowed by law and without the provision of good-time credit, Hernandez must register as a Tier III sexual offender, including mandatory lifetime reporting to the authorities.

Hernandez’ change-of-plea hearing was time-consuming because the defendant doesn’t speak English and the proceedings, much to do with what he must do upon his release from prison, had to go through a Spanish-language interpreter.

However, Hernandez is not a U.S. citizen, and Leuthold said his conviction could result in deportation and also prevent later naturalization as a citizen of the United States.

“Afterwards, absolutely,” Hoovler said of deportation. “But that’s up to the feds.”


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