Mahoning County judge sentences man convicted of raping child

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A city man found guilty of two counts of rape earlier this month was sentenced Monday to 10 years to life in prison.

Sergio Gonzalez, 23, received the sentence from Judge John Durkin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

“The defendant preyed on an 11-year-old girl,” Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Day said.

Day said the victim and her mother should be applauded for their courage in testifying.

Gonzalez was indicted in May 2022 for raping a victim who was 11 years old from December 2017 to June 2018.

He was on the run until June when he was taken into custody by Canfield police during a traffic stop.

Defense attorney Aaron Meikle said his client still maintains his innocence. He said his client was not speaking because he is appealing his convictions.

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