He is convicted of having sexual relations with an underage girl and today a judge sentenced Jaime Moreno to six years in jail. The 27-year construction worker was convicted last week for the unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl in 2004. Moreno appeared undefended in the trial that lasted less than two days.
Today in passing sentence, Justice Adolph Lucas told Moreno that he should have spoken up because the jury only heard one side of the story. Moreno's mother Edita Moreno told us that her son is illiterate and is only able to write his name, so he couldn't defend himself in court.
Edita Moreno, Convict's Mother
"Well if he did wrong, he should get his punishment but if he didn't do wrong, its unfair. For me as a mother, there is a DNA test I needed but they say its like I'm asking for an appeal in the court and they've already sentenced him so I might can't do nothing for him. I want to be satisfied because you don't find justice out here anymore. We are poor and we don't have any money to pay for a lawyer. And he is keeping his mouth closed so I told him it is like if you knocked somebody and you stay silence when they asked you, then you are guilty. And I told him I'll try to help him but the man I went to said its too late.
For the Lord I am still happy because my son is alive. He isn't dead and so I can always, with the help of the Lord, go and see my son but he has children."
Moreno's 6 year sentence is retroactive to November 1st. The minimum sentence for unlawful carnal knowledge is five years. Justice Lucas says he gave Moreno six years because he was specifically warned not to engage in relations with the girl because she is underage. Moreno was doing construction work in the girl's yard at the time of the incident. Justice Lucas advised Moreno that it would be best for him to retain a lawyer if he plans to appeal.
