Virginia Contractor Sentenced for Rape of 11-Year-Old Girl

A judge in Virginia has sentenced a contractor to 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of raping an 11-year-old girl. This incident occurred while the girl’s family was engaged in a bathroom renovation project at their home.

The contractor, Ricardo Mejia, originally from El Salvador and living in the U.S. illegally, allegedly assaulted the girl three times after gaining entry to the Virginia Beach residence where he was working. The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken Mejia into custody.

The crime came to light early on October 9 when the victim’s parents heard strange noises from her bedroom. Upon finding the door locked, they used a butter knife to open it. Inside, they spotted a naked man attempting to escape through a window, as reported by local news.

Mejia later confessed to climbing through the girl’s bedroom window multiple times. The first incident reportedly happened days before his arrest when the girl’s parents were away. The subsequent assaults took place at night while the girl was in her room.

A jury in Virginia Beach found him guilty of three counts of child rape and one count of criminal trespass.

During his sentencing, Mejia expressed remorse, saying, “I know I’m not the only one going through this. I am sorry for the pain she is experiencing during this process.”

As part of the legal proceedings, the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office conducted routine investigations on Mejia due to his immigration status, which ultimately resulted in his detention by ICE. Following his 30-year sentence in Virginia, he will be transferred to ICE custody.