Booking photo for Geovanni R. Molina (Courtesy: Cache County Jail)
LOGAN — A 19-year-old Nibley man is being sent to prison for raping a teenage girl last September. Geovanni R. Molina was ordered to serve between three-years-to-life in prison after previously accepting a plea deal.
Molina was sentenced during a virtual hearing in 1st District Court Monday morning, appearing by web conference from the Cache County Jail. He previously pleaded guilty to an amended count of attempted rape of a child and an amended count of attempted sodomy on a child, both first-degree felonies; and one count of sex abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.
Molina was arrested September 5 after a woman called Logan City Police officers, reporting the defendant had entered her home and raped her 13-year-old daughter. Officers later learned the victim had invited the man into the residence.
During Monday’s hearing, defense attorney Daniel Black said his client had no criminal history prior to being arrested. He explained how the defendant had come to the United States as an unaccompanied minor and didn’t know the laws of the country.
A letter, written by the 13-year-old girl’s mother was read by a victim advocate. In it, the woman pleaded for the court to send Molina to prison. She explained how her daughter had shut down and needed therapy since being raped. She also claimed the girl had endured harassment and assaults at school by the defendant’s friends.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Griffin Hazard explained that originally Molina was facing a possible prison sentence of 25-years-to-life. He said because of the defendant’s circumstances and the victim’s wishes, they had worked out a plea deal for less prison time.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck expressed sorrow for what the young victim experienced. She accepted the sentencing recommendation, partially due to the defendant’s age and his cooperation with law enforcement. She noted, Molina will be likely deported from the country following the prison sentence, but expressed hope that he is able to get on the right track.
will@cvradio.com