CA. The first of eight men accused in the gang rape of a 12-year-old
girl was sentenced Friday to two years in state prison.
Guadalupe Alverez, 23, received a two year sentence with credit for the
342 days he has already served in the Madera County Department of
Corrections. He was also ordered by Judge Thomas Bender to pay
restitution and fines totaling more than $600. Bender also agreed to
waive the conviction as a felony strike against Alverez.
A letter from the family was placed in the file, Bender said, and the
family chose not to speak during the sentencing. The parents of the
12-year-old were in the courtroom Friday morning.
Deputy District Attorney John Baker, who prosecuted the case against
Alverez and is prosecuting the cases against the seven remaining
suspects, said he would like Alverez to have access to the letter.
"I would like Mr. Alverez to read the letter so he can understand the
impact this incident has had on the family and the victim," Baker said.
Alverez did not participate in the actual rape of the 12-year-old,
according to Baker. He had received a cell phone call from his
girlfriend, and left the scene. He did, however, have full knowledge of
what was taking place.
One of the eight men, 41-year-old Brauilo Arreazola, will be tried on
the charges of rape and child molestation for the incident that occurred
May 19, 2002 in a Madera County field.
According to testimony, Arreazola was one of two men who brought the
child to the field on Avenue 17 at Road 26 and offered the girl in
exchange for drugs or money.
Testimony also indicated that the girl was given alcohol, and was
possibly drugged, prior to the men taking her to the field.
Among those to testify during the preliminary hearing of one of the
other men was Jose Alberto Obregon, 22, one of the eight men accused of
the crimes. He testified that Arreazola "wanted methamphetamine for
her," that "everybody had meth" and he "wanted dope or money ... for the
girl."
"Most everybody had sex that night," he said.
The other men, who have already pled guilty in this case, are Agapito
Armando Obregon, 26, Charles Gonzalez, 22, Amado Jimmy Carranza, 20,
Joseph Arellano, and a suspect who was 15 years old at the time of the
incident.
Jose Obregon entered a guilty plea and may serve up to 12 years in
prison. Part of the plea agreement was dismissing the conviction as a
strike. This would have been Obregon's third strike, earning him a
sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Carranza entered a guilty plea and is expected to be sentenced to six
years in prison, Baker said last month. Agapito Obregon also pled, and
is expected to be sentenced to 15 years.
"Those who constantly whine and complain about the police are those who
have usually been to court on more than one occasion."
Duncan