A Union County man faces more than 100 years in prison after he was convicted this week on 20 separate counts of raping four young girls, announced Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow.
Victor Murillo Barahona DOB: 6/18/1955 repeatedly abused four girls beginning in 2001 up until his arrest on April 14, 2008, said Assistant Prosecutor John Esmerado, who prosecuted the case.
Murillo Barahona was arrested after one of the victims disclosed the abuse to a parent, said Esmerado. The three other victims quickly told of similar abuse to their caregivers.
“He raped this children for eight years,” said Esmerado. “It was so frequent that the children lost count. He bribed them with food and candy to get them alone and then threatened them in order to keep their silence.”
The abuse began for all but one girl at the age of 5. The fourth was abused when she turned 8-years-old, said Esmerado.
The victims gave detailed accounts of the abuse to Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Janet Lopez. A search warrant executed at Murillo Barahona’s home uncovered two DVDs, which depicted the defendant raping one of the children, said Esmerado.
The Assistant Prosecutor credits the courage and resiliency of the four young girls who spoke the painful truths about their experience over the last eight years. Two faced the defendant in court. The two others were so traumatized that they could not face the defendant in person and testified via closed circuit television.
The trial took place before Union County Superior Court Judge James Heimlich. The jury took just two hours to convict Murillo Barahona and found him guilty of:
Five counts of 1st Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; Seven counts of 2nd Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; Eight counts of 3rd Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
The state is recommending that each sentenced be served consecutive and as such Murillo Barahona faces more than 100 years in state prison when sentenced on January 29, 2010.
Due to the number of victims and number of convictions his case represents the largest single conviction and sentence since the Union County Child Advocacy Center opened in 1994.
“This conviction and the thoroughness of the investigation showed the importance and necessity of the Child Advocacy Center,” said Romankow. “The unit works with and supports children who experience sexual abuse.”
The Child Advocacy Center will be moving into a new building in the coming months, offering more space and better accommodations to victims and their families.
“The County Freeholders, even in these lean financial times, realized the benefit that an expanded center would have on the victims,” said Romankow. “They made funding available that will benefit so many who have been the victim of such awful crimes.” |
