COLUMBUS, Ohio—A man accused of raping and impregnating a 9-year-old Ohio girl who had to travel out of state for an abortion pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of rape.
Gerson Fuentes, 28, was sentenced to life in prison but, as part of his plea deal, he will be eligible to seek parole after serving 25 to 30 years. He will also have to register as a sex offender.
The case became a turning point in the national discussion on access to proceedings since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
The girl, who turned 10 before miscarrying, confirmed Fuentes attacked her, Fuentes confessed to Columbus police detectives, and DNA testing of the aborted fetus confirmed Fuentes was the father, Franklin County prosecutors said. They also noted that they could not find any evidence that Fuentes was in the country legally.
Fuentes, who is from Guatemala and lived in Columbus, has been held without bail since his arrest. If he ultimately wins parole, he would likely be deported.
UNTIL THE FIRST “FETAL HEARTBEAT”: OHIO’S ABORTION BAN
The case gained national attention after an Indianapolis doctor, Dr. Caitlin Bernard, said a 10-year-old boy had to travel to Indiana because Ohio banned abortions at the first detectable “fetal heartbeat” after he the US Supreme Court struck down the landmark Roe. v. Wade’s sentence. Within a year of the ruling, 25 states had banned the procedure, including Indiana, though many laws are still in dispute.
The Indiana State Medical Licensing Board voted in May to reprimand Bernard, finding that he violated patient privacy laws when he told a reporter about the case, even without disclosing directly protected information such as his name or address.
However, the board rejected allegations by Indiana’s Republican attorney general that Bernard violated state law by failing to report child abuse to Indiana authorities. He denied a request to suspend his medical license. Board members opted to fine Bernard $3,000 for the violations, but issued no restrictions on his practice of medicine.
