|
|||||||||||||
Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Man sentenced for raping his elderly landlady
A 40-year-old man was sentenced Sept. 25 to 21 years in prison for raping his 70-year-old landlord in November 2007.
Silvestre A. Murga-Paniagua came from his native country of El Salvador to Virginia on a work permit. He got a job doing farm work and other chores for an elderly woman while renting an apartment in her Round Hill home, Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Plowman said.
The woman needed extra income for financial assistance and to help with her mortgage.
Then, on Nov. 24. 2007, Murga-Paniagua attacked the woman while he was reportedly intoxicated. He raped her, holding her against her will for about two hours before she was able to escape, Plowman said.
“He betrayed [her] trust in a nightmarish and brutal attack that mandated his separation from society,” Plowman said.
Murga-Paniagua pleaded guilty to the rape May 30 in Loudoun County Circuit Court.
After testimony was presented in Murga-Paniagua's sentencing hearing Thursday, Judge Burke McCahill sentenced him to 40 years in prison, suspending 19 of them.
The state sentencing guidelines, which a judge does not have to follow, called for a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison.
“This was perhaps the highest violation that can be perpetuated against another human being absent taking their life,” Plowman said. “It was a violation of the victim’s trust, home and body, and he deserves to be locked up as long as possible; it’s simply horrific. I think this is an overall reflection of the serious flaws in the Virginia Sentencing Guidelines.”
McCahill could have sentenced him anywhere from five years to life in prison.
When Murga-Paniagua finishes his sentence and is released from prison, his legal status in the country will be addressed. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is putting the proper paperwork in place to mandate Murga-Paniagua's removal from the country when he is released, Plowman said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.