MONROE - A Mexican immigrant living in Brodhead is sentenced to 25 years in prison for repeated sexual assault of two young girls, after a jury found him guilty in August despite the girls' recantations and a lack of physical evidence.
Norberto Santiago-Castellanos, 33, received the minimum sentence required by law for two Class B felony convictions in Green County Circuit Court Tuesday, Oct. 1. The offenses were previously reported to be Class A felonies, due to a court error.
Judge Thomas Vale ordered the 25-year sentence on both to be served concurrently, following the recommendation of defense attorney Frank Medina.
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Kohl recommended consecutive sentences, or 50 years total in prison.
Kohl brushed off concerns about the case, including a probation agent's pre-sentence report in which she described the case as "puzzling" and "hard to believe."
The lack of physical damage to the girls, who were both under 10, is not unusual, he said. The girls recanted at Santiago-Castellanos' jury trial, saying "nothing happened," but Kohl argued their original allegations, made during a videotaped forensic interview, hold up under scrutiny.
"I've never seen any that were more credible," he said of the interviews. "The jury got it right here."
He attributed their recantations to pressure from family.
Medina countered that the charges are based on "a lot of speculation" and the jury "used a standard of mercy and pity instead of guilt without a reasonable doubt."
Of the defendant's guilt, Medina said, "I still have doubts."
Vale wouldn't address concerns over guilt or innocence. The jury's decision to convict was his guide, he said.
"The court is not going to speculate on guilt. ... This is a heinous offense to contemplate," he said. "These children will be scarred, are scarred, for life."
Still, he said he would take into account Santiago-Castellanos' record as a hard worker who kept up consistent employment and made a good impression on employers.
"What I will do is make these sentences concurrent," he said. "I believe a 25-year sentence is sufficient."
The sentence will be less 520 days, to account for the time Santiago-Castellanos has spent in jail since he was charged in May 2012.
Medina said Santiago-Castellanos will be seeking an appeal. Once an appellate attorney is assigned the case, it will be reviewed for legal errors.
"They're not questioning the jury. They're questioning the evidence that led to the jury's decision," he said.
When he was charged, Santiago-Castellanos was close to becoming a citizen, Medina said. Now, when he gets out, "he'll go to Mexico."
Of the jury's decision, he said "they did what they thought was right. They did their job," he said.
Norberto Santiago-Castellanos, 33, received the minimum sentence required by law for two Class B felony convictions in Green County Circuit Court Tuesday, Oct. 1. The offenses were previously reported to be Class A felonies, due to a court error.
Judge Thomas Vale ordered the 25-year sentence on both to be served concurrently, following the recommendation of defense attorney Frank Medina.
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Kohl recommended consecutive sentences, or 50 years total in prison.
Kohl brushed off concerns about the case, including a probation agent's pre-sentence report in which she described the case as "puzzling" and "hard to believe."
The lack of physical damage to the girls, who were both under 10, is not unusual, he said. The girls recanted at Santiago-Castellanos' jury trial, saying "nothing happened," but Kohl argued their original allegations, made during a videotaped forensic interview, hold up under scrutiny.
"I've never seen any that were more credible," he said of the interviews. "The jury got it right here."
He attributed their recantations to pressure from family.
Medina countered that the charges are based on "a lot of speculation" and the jury "used a standard of mercy and pity instead of guilt without a reasonable doubt."
Of the defendant's guilt, Medina said, "I still have doubts."
Vale wouldn't address concerns over guilt or innocence. The jury's decision to convict was his guide, he said.
"The court is not going to speculate on guilt. ... This is a heinous offense to contemplate," he said. "These children will be scarred, are scarred, for life."
Still, he said he would take into account Santiago-Castellanos' record as a hard worker who kept up consistent employment and made a good impression on employers.
"What I will do is make these sentences concurrent," he said. "I believe a 25-year sentence is sufficient."
The sentence will be less 520 days, to account for the time Santiago-Castellanos has spent in jail since he was charged in May 2012.
Medina said Santiago-Castellanos will be seeking an appeal. Once an appellate attorney is assigned the case, it will be reviewed for legal errors.
"They're not questioning the jury. They're questioning the evidence that led to the jury's decision," he said.
When he was charged, Santiago-Castellanos was close to becoming a citizen, Medina said. Now, when he gets out, "he'll go to Mexico."
Of the jury's decision, he said "they did what they thought was right. They did their job," he said.