COLORADO SPRINGS – A former Colorado Springs man, who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl, may not see any jail time for it.
53-year-old Hector Gonzalez entered into a plea deal with the District Attorney’s Office, Thursday afternoon.
“I don’t know if you ever recover from something like this,” said the victim’s grandmother, Valerie Montoya.
Montoya says she and Gonzalez used to be neighbors.
According to the court affidavit, Gonzalez told authorities he was a good friend of the family.
The affidavit goes on to say Gonzalez would babysit the victim frequently.
The victim’s mother took her to Memorial Central Hospital in July of 2018, after the 4-year-old told her mother Gonzalez had touched her genitals approximately five times.
Gonzalez was arrested in August.
Montoya says the sexual assault has torn her family apart.
“They’ve taken her out of schools. My daughter’s lost her job because of all of this. I just don’t know what the future holds,” Montoya told News5.
But this week, she learned Gonzalez’s future may not include any jail time.
“He’s getting off easy. To do that to a child and get off like that–it’s amazing,” said Montoya.
On Thursday, Gonzalez took a plea deal that would give him a deferred sentence, if the judge follows the DA’s recommendation.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would get probation. I thought he’d go to jail. I really did,” Montonya told News5.
He pleaded guilty to Sexual Assault On A Child By One In A Position Of Trust, a Class 4 Felony–with a recommended four-year deferred sentence.
He also pleaded guilty to a Class 1 misdemeanor “Unlawful Sexual Contact Charge,” with a recommended four years of supervised probation.
Montoya says her family was shocked when they heard the terms of the deal.
“Just total shock. I feel people have gone to jail for far less.”
She and her daughter plan to speak at Gonzalez’s sentencing in May, in hopes of convincing the judge to reject the deal.
Until then, they’re focused on helping her granddaughter (who is now five) heal.
“This is going to be a life long thing for my granddaughter. This is going to be a forever thing. And I hope and pray this doesn’t define her.”
Sentencing is scheduled for May 8th.
