Mom Of Teen Raped By Family Member Says 11-Year Sentence Not Enough
SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) — The man who raped a 14-year-old disabled girl is behind bars, but the girl's family says it's not enough.
The victim's mother doesn't feel justice was served.
"My first thought is that I'm going to take a knife, I'm going to kill him," said the victim's mother, who we are calling Maria.
For Maria, the pain is still fresh. Her 14-year-old daughter was raped by Carlos Mesinas, a trusted family member.
"She doesn't talk, she doesn't walk, she doesn't move at all," said Maria.
Maria learned of the abuse after checking Mesinas' phone. He recorded part of the rape. That's when she contacted police.
A jury found him guilty, and the judge sentenced him to 11 years. But for this mother, that's not enough.
"11 years? It's like where's justice?" she said. "He deserves even more."
In most sexual assault cases, there are other charges the state can tack on so the rapist spends more time behind bars.
But because he didn't kidnap, or use a weapon to commit the crime, he will only serve 11 years.
Maria says the law must be changed to protect disabled children.
"Basically they are protecting him, not the handicapped girl," she said. "This is something huge, and then they treat it like, 'Oh well. Oh well a rape. Oh raping a girl, whatever."
Maria still lives with the guilt of what happened. But instead of focusing on the past, she's determined to share her family's story, hopeful it will bring about change.
"He did something wrong. He has to pay," she said.
The Sacramento County District Attorney's office says they hope this case will raise awareness to this issue, and that the legislature will take a look at where there are gaps in the law.
