Trigger Warning: Child Sexual Abuse
Man Sentenced to 30 Years After Pleading Guilty to Raping Norfolk Teenager
NORFOLK, Va. – Jose Vazquez-Velazquez III, 50, was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison for sexually abusing a teenager last year.
On June 6, the victim’s mother contacted Norfolk Police to report that her daughter had been kidnapped and raped. The victim was familiar with Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez from the neighborhood and told her mother where she was located. Norfolk Police Special Crimes detectives responded to Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ house on the 300 block of Olney Road, and Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez claimed that he was the only one home. When officers circled the block, they encountered the victim walking down the street. The victim told officers she had been inside Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ residence and was forced out of the house after detectives knocked on the door. The victim and her mother were transported to the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, and the victim underwent a sexual assault nurse examination. Testing of the victim’s physical evidence recovery kit later revealed the presence of Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ DNA.
Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez pleaded guilty on Oct. 10 to rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, and taking indecent liberties with a child. Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ plea agreement with a maximum active sentence of 35 years.
On Friday, Judge Joseph C. Lindsey sentenced Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez to serve 30 years in prison. Judge Lindsey suspended another 90 years on the conditions that Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez be on supervised probation following his release, have no contact with the victim, and have no unsupervised contact with minors.
“Our children are our most vulnerable victims, and people who prey on our children must be off the streets,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “My heart goes out to the survivor of Mr. Vasquez-Velazquez’ crime, and I thank them for protecting the community by coming forward. We will continue to focus our resources on prosecuting, convicting, and holding accountable the people who commit violent crimes.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie G. Johnson prosecuted Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Richard J. Wampler led the investigation.
If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to sexual assault, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376, or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.
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