Illegal immigrant gets 15 years for molesting 13-year-old
By Logan G. Carver | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Story last updated at 4/18/2009 - 1:57 am

A district judge on Friday sentenced a Mexican national who entered the country illegally to 15 years in prison for forcing his way into an apartment and assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

A Lubbock County jury on Tuesday convicted Julian Vasquez of indecency with a child for the July 2008 assault.

Vasquez forced his way into a unit in the Cora Apartments in the 300 block of Avenue U after the girl opened the door when he knocked.

Vasquez pushed the girl onto a bed, ripped her shirt, undid her bra and touched her breasts, according to testimony.

She fought him off and hid in the bathroom with the door locked while she called 911.

Officers arrived and found Vasquez at the bathroom door.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Friday testified Vasquez was an illegal immigrant and would be deported when released from prison.

Once he is returned to Mexico, there is no way for U.S. authorities to track him or compel him to register as a sex offender in Mexico, the agent testified.

In closing remarks, prosecutor Jennifer Bassett urged Judge Cecil Puryear to consider the forceful and physical nature of the assault and the lasting effect it will have on the girl, as well as the fact that if he is released early from prison, there is nothing to stop him from re-entering the country without registering as a sex offender and offending again.

Jesse Mendez, Vasquez's attorney, said Vasquez was drunk when he committed the assault and asked the judge to take that into consideration.

He also said the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants who commit crimes is an undue burden on the state.

As a result of a 2007 law, Vasquez must serve at least half his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

"This is an appropriate sentence for a stranger who broke into a house to molest a child," Bassett said. "And this is a case where the effects on this child will not be forgotten by her, and this is a serious crime in Lubbock County."

Mendez met with Vasquez for a few minutes after the sentence before his client was returned to jail.

"I respect the decision that was made," Mendez said.

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