Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Raping 11-Year-Old

An illegal immigrant from El Salvador has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl in Virginia Beach. Local authorities announced the sentencing on Wednesday.

Ricardo Leonel Mejia, the Salvadoran national, will serve his time in the Virginia Department of Corrections before being transferred to ICE custody, as stated by the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office.

This case has ignited discussions among Virginia’s leadership about the state’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger mentioned that, if elected, she would work to reverse Governor Glenn Youngkin’s immigration enforcement policy, which designates Virginia as a “sanctuary state.” This policy restricts local law enforcement from participating in detaining illegal immigrants who have felony convictions.

In response, Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earl Sears expressed his disgust at the situation, saying it made him “sick beyond words.”

Mejia, 35, pleaded guilty in Virginia Beach Circuit Court to multiple counts of rape of a child under 13, as well as other charges. The abuse reportedly occurred in 2024 when Mejia was hired to renovate a bathroom for a family.

The crime came to light when the victim’s mother found her daughter in bed, attempting to use a butter knife to open a locked door. Mejia fled through a window but was later caught and arrested.

Upon his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Mejia was residing in the country illegally and took him into custody. After serving his sentence, he will face further proceedings with ICE.

During his sentencing, Mejia expressed remorse, stating, “I know I’m not the only one who’s going through this. I’m sorry for the pain she’s going through this process.”

Records indicate that he was booked into the Virginia Beach Correctional Center on October 9, 2024. The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office has been contacted for additional comments.