A man from El Salvador has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of raping an 11-year-old girl in Virginia Beach, as reported by local authorities on Wednesday.
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office published a statement on X regarding Ricardo Leonel Mejia’s custody status and mentioned “numerous public inquiries” related to his situation.
“Mejia, who is a citizen of El Salvador, will serve his 30-year sentence at the Virginia Department of Corrections and will later be transferred to ICE custody,” the statement indicated.
This case has ignited discussions among Virginia’s political leaders, with debates on whether the state should restrict its collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger stated that one of her initial actions as governor would be to reverse current immigration enforcement initiatives implemented by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, positioning Virginia as a “sanctuary state,” according to the Republican Governors Association.
This proposed policy would inhibit local law enforcement from aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in instances such as Mejia’s, where a detainer has been issued for an undocumented individual convicted of serious offenses.
In response, Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears expressed her feelings on X, stating she was “sickened beyond words.”
Mejia, aged 35, was found guilty of multiple sexual offenses, including raping a child under the age of 13, indecent liberties with a minor, and statutory burglary after pleading guilty in a Virginia Beach Circuit Court, as per documents reviewed by Fox News Digital.
The victim was assaulted in 2024, during which Mejia was contracted to remodel a bathroom at her family’s residence.
The heinous acts came to light when the girl’s mother forced open a locked door with a butter knife and found Mejia in her daughter’s bed.
Mejia attempted to escape through a window but was later identified and apprehended by authorities.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Mejia’s illegal status in the country and has placed a detainer on him.
Upon completion of his sentence at the Virginia Department of Corrections, ICE has stated he will be placed in their custody for further actions.
During the sentencing, Mejia expressed remorse to the victim, stating, “I know I am not the only one suffering through difficult times. I am sorry for the pain she is enduring in this situation.”
Records indicate that Mejia was booked into the Virginia Beach Correctional Center on October 9, 2024.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office for additional comments.
