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Orozco found guilty, sentenced to 15 years for sexual misconduct
7/17/2008 11:53 PM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend



By MIKE GELLATLY

Staff writer

An Aiken County jury took less than half an hour to find a man guilty of raping two girls, ages 5 and 8.

Juan Carlos Orozco's sentence was delivered Thursday afternoon before he was sentenced to 15 years in jail, followed by five years of probation.

To cries and shouts of "No" from Orozco's family members, the jury's verdict was read, finding the father of two young boys guilty of two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree and two counts of committing a lewd act upon a minor.

During the two-day trial, the jury heard testimony from the two victims, who testified that the 40-year-old had made them touch his "private part" and forced the girls into committing various sexual acts.

Neither of the victims was in the courtroom to hear the verdict, but several members of their families were, and they wept as the verdict was read.

The attacks, testimony said, happened about four years ago. One of the girls testified that Orozco would call them inside his house, where he was a babysitter, and molest them.

She said this happened once every two weeks to a month, and it happened more than five times but less than 10.

Upon hearing the verdict, several of Orozco's family members who were seated behind him, including his wife, had to leave the courtroom.

As he was placed in handcuffs and shackles, Orozco looked at a member of his family, shaking his head and mouthing "No."

Judge Cordell Maddox heard from Orozco and his wife but spoke little outside of handing down his sentence.

Orozco was sentenced to 15 years on each of the four counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Speaking through an interpreter, Orozco told the judge that he was amazed to be standing there.

"I don't know why this is happening to me right now," he said. "I am going to pay for something I never did."

Orozco's wife also continued to deny the jury's findings.

"I believe with all my heart he didn't do this; he's a good father," she said, before pleading with the judge. "Please have mercy on my babies."

As well as serving his sentence, Orozco will have to register as a sex offender and may have to wear an electronic monitoring device when released.

Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.

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