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A man with the surnames Hernández Le Maitre was sentenced to 48 years in prison after being found responsible for committing multiple sexual crimes against three girls, who were just one, three, and seven years old when the assaults began.
n” “nThe sentence was handed down by the Heredia Criminal Court, after the San Joaquín de Flores Prosecutor’s Office managed to prove the defendant’s responsibility in the crimes of sexual abuse, rape, production of child sexual abuse material, and dissemination of that material.
n” “nAccording to the indictment filed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the events took place between 2012 and 2016 in the community of La Ribera de Belén, in the province of Heredia.
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n” “nInvestigations determined that the assaults began when the victims were at a very young age. At the time of the first incidents, one of the minors was just one year old, another three years old, and the third seven years old, which was considered an element of particular gravity within the criminal proceedings.
n” “nThe Public Prosecutor’s Office maintained that the abuses occurred while the girls were staying at their aunt’s house, a place where the now-sentenced man also lived.
n” “nThe investigation advanced after, on April 16, 2016, the mother of one of the minors detected signs that raised suspicions about a possible sexual assault.
n” “nFaced with that situation, the woman decided to go to the judicial authorities and filed the corresponding complaint, which initiated the investigation that years later culminated in the conviction.
n” “nDuring the trial, the Prosecutor’s Office presented evidence that allowed for the reconstruction of the events and demonstrated the criminal responsibility of Hernández Le Maitre in the various crimes attributed to him.
n” “nIn addition to the sexual assaults, the Court found it proven that the defendant also engaged in the production and dissemination of material containing child sexual abuse, one of the crimes considered most serious under Costa Rican legislation due to the permanent damage it causes to the victims.
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n” “nAfter evaluating the testimonial, expert, and documentary evidence presented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the judges decided to impose a total sentence of 48 years in prison.
n” “nWhile the sentence becomes final, Hernández Le Maitre must remain in pre-trial detention, as ordered by the Heredia Criminal Court.
n” “nJudicial authorities remind that this type of crime usually occurs in environments close to the victims, where aggressors take advantage of bonds of trust or family ties to facilitate the assaults and prevent them from being discovered for long periods.
n” “nThe Public Prosecutor’s Office reiterated that it will continue to promote investigations related to sexual crimes against minors and highlighted the importance of timely reporting to protect victims and prevent these events from continuing to occur.
n” “nThe sentence imposed by the Heredia Criminal Court represents one of the highest penalties recently handed down for sexual crimes committed against minors and reflects the severity of the conduct proven during the trial, as well as the commitment of judicial authorities to sanction these types of acts in accordance with current legislation.
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