Luis Castillo-Naranjo started raping children before he became a teenager, according to court documents.
Two teen girls and a woman all came forward in 2021 to say the then 21-year-old man raped them for years, starting when they were between 4- and 8-years-old.
Three years after he was initially accused of 14 counts related to the abuse, Castillo-Naranjo pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Franklin County Superior Court to three counts of second-degree child rape.
His youth at the time of the crimes was the primary reason Judge Diana Ruff said she wasn’t giving him the maximum sentence.
“It’s really apparent ... you didn’t get the support that you needed,” she said. “It’s clear to me that you didn’t get dealt a great hand on that part of things.”
She also said his victims’ families were neglectful. One of the girls who he raped spoke at his sentencing about the lasting impact of the crime.
“I can’t escape that house. I was 5 years old and I already wanted to end it,” the teen said. “What does constant neglect and abuse do to a defenseless child? I used to think nothing and then the panic attacks started. The cold sweat, the chest pains and the heavy breathing.
“The worst part is it doesn’t come with thoughts — just a feeling of impending doom of never being able to escape.”
While Castillo-Naranjo didn’t say anything at his sentencing, his attorney Peyman Younesi explained his client wasn’t in favor of a trial, and didn’t want to put the victims through any more pain.
Castillo-Naranjo suffered from abuse and neglect at the hands of family members, Younesi said. While his client didn’t feel it was an excuse for his behavior, it did provide an explanation.
Castillo-Naranjo told state evaluators that he had been sexually abused by an uncle while living in Mexico.
“He is disgusted by his behavior and it is just impossible to change the past, but it is possible to plan for the future,” Younesi said. “He wants to be a better person. He wants to accept responsibility.”
14 years in prison
Castillo-Naranjo faced a minimum sentence of between 12 and 16 years in prison. Prosecutors and the defense attorney recommended he serve at least 13 years.
Department of Corrections evaluators believed he should serve the maximum — 16 years in prison. The evaluator, who reviewed the case and spoke with Castillo-Naranjo, said he didn’t take full responsibility for the crimes. The evaluator also noted that he targeted minors and abused a position of trust.
The crimes all happened while the children were alone together.
Ruff said if those were the only factors in this case, she would have picked the high end of the sentencing range. But she said Castillo-Naranjo was very young when he started committing the crimes.
She sentenced him to 14 years in prison.
When he finishes that sentence, a state board will decide whether he should stay incarcerated, or if he can be released. He could possibly serve up to life in prison.
Local News
