Hope this was not posted before.

Last of six illegal immigrants pleads guilty to child endangerment

by South Jersey News Online
Friday May 02, 2008, 3:45 PM
By MATT DUNN
mdunn@sjnewsco.com

BRIDGETON -- The last of six illegal immigrants charged with picking up a 13-year-old girl at an Irving Avenue dollar store, then sexually assaulting her multiple times before she turned up 24 hours later, pleaded guilty Friday.

Vincente Rodriguez, 26, of Hopewell Township, pleaded guilty to third-degree endangering the welfare of a child in exchange for a three-year prison sentence.

Rodriguez, a Mexican citizen, admitted through a Spanish-speaking translator to Superior Court Judge Richard Geiger that he fondled the victim's breasts during the August 2006 abduction.


"Did you have an encounter with a girl under the age of 16?" Geiger asked.

"Si," Rodriguez replied.

Rodriguez was originally offered a plea deal of eight years in state prison if he pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Earlier in the day, 19-year-old Edson Leontes was sentenced to a state prison term after pleading guilty earlier this year to aggravated sexual assault in the case.

Both Rodriguez and Leontes were farm laborers at Brookside Nursery, in Hopewell Township, one of three locations where prosecutors believe the underage victim was assaulted.

The owner of the nursery reported to the News in 2006 that both men signed working papers claiming they are in the country legally.

Rodriguez's attorney said Friday that an immigration detainer was placed on Rodriguez by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in addition to the five other men charged in connection with the incident.

"I explained to (Rodriguez) the exposure to deportation at the end of his prison sentence," said Louis Shapiro, of Vineland.

Raul Chasares, 24, and Oscare Estrada Lopez, both of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty last year to third-degree endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the incident.

Chasares admitted supplying the victim with marijuana and alcohol and Lopez admitted having sexual contact with the victim.

Alfonso Ponce, 20, of Bridgeton, admitted sexually penetrating the victim. He pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault last year and was sentenced to five years in state prison.


http://www.nj.com/southjersey/index.ssf ... rants.html