Accused rapist denied bond in case of 10-year-old girl who had to cross state lines for abortion
The Ohio man who reportedly confessed to raping a girl who had an abortion at age 10 will be held without bond, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Gerson Fuentes, 27, is accused of raping the girl twice when she was just 9 years old and living with him and her mother in Columbus, Ohio. He has pleaded not guilty.
The girl became pregnant after the second rape but was unable to get an abortion in Ohio because state law prohibits the procedure after six weeks, with no exception for rape. The girl realized she was pregnant after six weeks and three days.
Gerson Fuentes attends his bond hearing Thursday. (Paul Vernon/)
A doctor recommended the girl travel to Indiana. She received a medically induced abortion in Indianapolis. Indiana’s attorney general has been attacking the Indianapolis physician who helped the girl.
President Biden mentioned the story while signing an executive order about abortion rights, noting that the girl got the abortion on June 30, six days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Conservatives, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, suggested that he made it up. They changed their tune after Fuentes was arrested and charged with two counts of raping a child under age 13.
At Thursday’s hearing, prosecutors said Fuentes confessed to the crimes twice, the girl identified Fuentes as her attacker and DNA testing of the fetus confirmed Fuentes as the father.
If convicted, Fuentes could face life in prison without parole. Prosecutors argued the threat of that sentence, combined with the overwhelming evidence, made him a flight risk. Judge Julie Lynch agreed.
Judge Julie Lynch speaks during the hearing. (Paul Vernon/)
Fuentes’ defense attorney unsuccessfully argued that Fuentes wouldn’t flee because he had lived in Columbus for several years and his mother also lives in the city.
Prosecutors said they couldn’t find any evidence that Fuentes was in the country legally. The defense team also didn’t provide any.
In denying Fuentes’ request for bail, Lynch noted the horror that the young girl could possibly face being reunited with her alleged rapist in her own home.
“To allow him to return to that home, the traumatic and psychological impact would be undeserving to an alleged victim,” she said.
With News Wire Services
