Gerson Fuentes, an Ohio man convicted of raping a 9-year-old girl, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Fuentes pleaded guilty to two rape charges in Franklin County Court. The abuse took place in the spring of 2022 when the girl was 9 years old. The abuse case gained national attention after the girl’s family took her to Indiana to have her unborn baby aborted shortly after she turned 10. The case occurred at a time when Ohio’s heartbeat law banning most abortions once a heartbeat is detectable was in effect, though it was later blocked by a court order.
Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch sentenced Fuentes to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 to 30 years. The judge explained that she could have given him life in prison without parole but took into account the family’s wishes when determining the sentence. Fuentes, who is originally from Guatemala, may face deportation at the end of his sentence as he is not a U.S. citizen.
The case garnered attention after Dr. Caitlin Bernard, the Indiana abortionist who performed the abortion on the girl, spoke about the abuse victim to the media without her consent. This led to media attention and a visit by a reporter to the girl’s home. The Indiana Attorney General’s Office took action, filing an administrative complaint against Bernard for violating patient privacy laws and emphasizing the harm caused to the young victim.
While abortion activists often bring up cases of rape to argue for legalized abortion, research and testimonies from victims contradict this claim. Many rape victims recognize their unborn babies as second victims and refuse to consider abortion. Others share heartbreaking stories of how their abortions added to their trauma. Building upon the evil of rape with the evil of abortion causes nothing but continued trauma and regret in the victim’s life.