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Guilty plea in sex abuse of a minor
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Posted on Jun 20 2008
A 20-year-old man who was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl on at least five occasions entered a guilty plea yesterday.
Kirk Manalo Palacios pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.
Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo sentenced Palacios to five years of imprisonment, all suspended except for a term of between three and 12 months, without the possibility of parole.
Govendo, however, said he will determine the term of imprisonment within the 3 months to 12 months after a review of the Office of Adult Probation’s pre-sentence report.
The judge set the sentencing hearing for Oct. 2, 2008 at 9am.
Palacios was placed on five years probation and required to pay a $500 fine, probation service fee to be determined later, and $25 in court assessment fee.
Govendo ordered the defendant to perform 300 hours of community service and register as a sex offender.
He prohibited Palacios from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages during the period of probation.
In January 2007, the Attorney General’s Office charged Palacios with five counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.
The defendant and counsel assistant public defender Richard Miller signed a plea agreement with the government, represented by assistant attorney general Joseph Taijeron.
Palacios pleaded guilty to only one count. The remaining charges were dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement.
According to the plea agreement, on or between April 10, 2007 and June 12, 2007, Palacios, at that time 19 years old, sexually abused a 14-year-old girl.
According to a police report, the girl told authorities that she had sexual intercourse with Palacios five times between April to June 2007.
She said the defendant would enter her house through the back window.
