Current:Home > Contact-usOhio man sentenced to life in prison for rape of 10-year-old girl who traveled to Indiana for abortion-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Ohio man sentenced to life in prison for rape of 10-year-old girl who traveled to Indiana for abortion
View Date:2024-12-24 10:25:11
An Ohio man was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for raping a 10-year-old girl who then had to travel to Indiana for an abortion in a case that drew national attention when the obstetrician-gynecologist who provided the procedure spoke about it with a journalist.
Gerson Fuentes, 28, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. However, his plea deal states he can file for parole after 25 years, according to court documents. If parole is granted, Fuentes, who is from Guatemala and was living in Columbus, Ohio, would have to register as a sex offender.
Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch called the plea deal a "very hard pill for this court to swallow," The Associated Press reported. Lynch said the victim's family asked the judge to back the deal.
The girl was 9 years old when she was assaulted by Fuentes. Columbus police learned about the girl's pregnancy through a referral to the Franklin County Children Services that was made by her mother. Shortly after her 10th birthday, the girl traveled to Indiana to get an abortion. Prosecutors said DNA testing of the aborted fetus confirmed Fuentes was the father.
The girl couldn't get the procedure in Ohio under a newly imposed state ban on abortions at the first detectable "fetal heartbeat," which went into full effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The girl's doctor, Dr. Caitlin Bernard, told a journalist at the Indianapolis Star she was contacted by a child abuse doctor in Ohio to arrange for the procedure in Indiana. Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a complaint against the doctor for speaking about the procedure and violating medical privacy laws.
Bernard said she raised the issue to alert Indiana residents to the realities of pregnancy termination care if the state passed strict abortion bans. During a hearing, Bernard said she used a real-life example because a hypothetical case wouldn't have the same impact on readers. She said she notified Indiana hospital social workers about the abuse, and the girl's case was already being investigated by Ohio authorities. The doctor's attorneys said she didn't release any identifying information about the patient.
Indiana's medical licensing board issued Bernard $3,000 in fines and a letter of reprimand but didn't suspend her license.
On June 30, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled the state's near-total abortion ban can take effect. The legislation — among the strictest in the nation — bans abortion except in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother.
The Associated Press and Melissa Quinn contributed reporting
- In:
- Indiana
- Abortion
- Ohio
Cara Tabachnick is a news editor for CBSNews.com. Contact her at [email protected]
veryGood! (71681)
Related
- 13 Skincare Gifts Under $50 That Are Actually Worth It
- Reports: Commanders name former Cowboys defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, new head coach
- Massachusetts Senate debates gun bill aimed at ghost guns and assault weapons
- WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith signs with Storm; ex-MVP Tina Charles lands with Dream
- Krispy Kreme is giving free dozens to early customers on World Kindness Day
- Who freed Flaco? One year later, eagle-owl’s escape from Central Park Zoo remains a mystery
- Score a $598 Tory Burch Dress for $60, a $248 Top for $25, and More Can't-Miss Deals
- Federal officials issue new guidelines in an effort to pump the brakes on catchy highway signs
- Man jailed after Tuskegee University shooting says he fired his gun, but denies shooting at anyone
- Video shows bear cubs native to Alaska found wandering 3,614 miles away — in Florida
Ranking
- Jon Gruden joins Barstool Sports three years after email scandal with NFL
- Caitlin Clark is a supernova for Iowa basketball. Her soccer skills have a lot do with that
- Attorneys for the man charged in University of Idaho stabbings seek change of venue
- Gisele Bündchen pays tribute to her late mother: You were an angel on earth
- 'Unfortunate error': 'Wicked' dolls with porn site on packaging pulled from Target, Amazon
- Police search for two missing children after remains found encased in concrete at Colorado storage unit
- Mississippi House passes bill to legalize online sports betting
- Netflix reveals first look at 'Squid Game' Season 2: What we know about new episodes
Recommendation
-
Bill on school bathroom use by transgender students clears Ohio Legislature, heads to governor
-
Utah Legislature Takes Aim at Rights of Nature Movement
-
Former Ohio Senate President Stanley Aronoff dies at 91
-
Microdosing is more popular than ever. Here's what you need to know.
-
Jon Gruden joins Barstool Sports three years after email scandal with NFL
-
Take it from Jimmy Johnson: NFL coaches who rely too much on analytics play risky game
-
Who freed Flaco? One year later, eagle-owl’s escape from Central Park Zoo remains a mystery
-
Suits Spinoff TV Show States New Details for the Record