Lawrence Man Convicted of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child Under 14 Years of Age
12/09/2010
CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces this morning a jury convicted Lawrence resident Jose A. Fernandez-Torres, 23, of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child Under 14 Years of Age and Violation of a Protective Order. Investigation into the case began on September 2nd at approximately 11:30 a.m. when officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to Lawrence Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room after the seven year old victim was brought in by her mother for a sexual assault exam. Mr. Frenandez-Torres' defense of his actions during the trial was he had only accidentally brushed the child's groin area when he moved her over to keep her from falling out of bed. Mr. Fernandez-Torres, who will be sentenced on February 7 at 1:30 p.m., faces 25 years to life in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections for the Aggravated Indecent Liberties charge and he faces up to one year in the County jail and a $2,500 fine for the Violation of a Protective Order charge. The trial began Monday, jury selection was complete and open arguments were ready to proceed, but a power outage at the Judicial and Law Enforcement building, kept the trial from starting until Tuesday morning. The trial continued throughout Tuesday and closing arguments were delivered Wednesday at approximately 3:00 p.m. The jury began deliberation at 4:10 p.m. and they deliberated until shortly after 5:00 p.m., when they recessed for the evening. The jury returned Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and deliberated for nearly two hours before returning its verdict. The Honorable Peggy C. Kittel presided over the case. The Lawrence Police Department investigated the case and Assistant District Attorney Katy Britton and Chief Assistant District Attorney Amy McGowan prosecuted it. -30-
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Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright - Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com