A man from Taylor accused of brutally attacking a young girl inside her home as her parents cleaned up from a July Fourth picnic outside was in Lackawanna County court Tuesday.
Felix Montoya pleaded no contest to rape of a child with serious bodily injury and other charges. While he did not admit guilt, he does admit there is enough evidence against him for a conviction.
Montoya could spend the rest of his life behind bars, after entering a no contest plea to three charges, rape of a child with serious bodily injury, aggravated assault and burglary.
The maximum sentence is life in prison plus 40 years, along with a $100,000 fine.
Police said Montoya brutally raped the young girl in her bedroom while her parents cleaned up their Fourth of July party.
Prosecutors and police said it's one of the most horrific cases they have ever seen.
"It was traumatizing for everyone involved. All we could focus on was that little girl and imagining what she went through," said Assistant District Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
After the plea the child's mother said, "I just want to say thank you for the outpouring of support from the community. You don't have to be a parent to be impacted by this."
The mother, who isn't being identified to protect her child, said they have gotten more than 100 supportive letters and pictures other children drew for her daughter.
The girl's father said she just started kindergarten. "That's the most important thing, isn't it? That she's okay?" he asked.
The parents and prosecutors urge others to write letters to Judge Michael Barrasse before Montoya's sentencing.
Prosecutors said Montoya has not pleaded guilty because he claims he blacked out during the incident.
"It was fairly clear that he had been drinking. I just don't know how much he does exactly remember. Of course you would love to hear someone say 'I did it,' but what he does say is, 'I acknowledge, I have nothing to say other than your evidence is correct,'" said Assistant District Attorney Gene Tallerico.
The district attorney's office said Montoya will likely be sentenced sometime next year. While the mandatory minimum sentence is 15 years behind bars, the judge said in court Tuesday Montoya will get much more than that.
Felix Montoya pleaded no contest to rape of a child with serious bodily injury and other charges. While he did not admit guilt, he does admit there is enough evidence against him for a conviction.
Montoya could spend the rest of his life behind bars, after entering a no contest plea to three charges, rape of a child with serious bodily injury, aggravated assault and burglary.
The maximum sentence is life in prison plus 40 years, along with a $100,000 fine.
Police said Montoya brutally raped the young girl in her bedroom while her parents cleaned up their Fourth of July party.
Prosecutors and police said it's one of the most horrific cases they have ever seen.
"It was traumatizing for everyone involved. All we could focus on was that little girl and imagining what she went through," said Assistant District Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
After the plea the child's mother said, "I just want to say thank you for the outpouring of support from the community. You don't have to be a parent to be impacted by this."
The mother, who isn't being identified to protect her child, said they have gotten more than 100 supportive letters and pictures other children drew for her daughter.
The girl's father said she just started kindergarten. "That's the most important thing, isn't it? That she's okay?" he asked.
The parents and prosecutors urge others to write letters to Judge Michael Barrasse before Montoya's sentencing.
Prosecutors said Montoya has not pleaded guilty because he claims he blacked out during the incident.
"It was fairly clear that he had been drinking. I just don't know how much he does exactly remember. Of course you would love to hear someone say 'I did it,' but what he does say is, 'I acknowledge, I have nothing to say other than your evidence is correct,'" said Assistant District Attorney Gene Tallerico.
The district attorney's office said Montoya will likely be sentenced sometime next year. While the mandatory minimum sentence is 15 years behind bars, the judge said in court Tuesday Montoya will get much more than that.
