COURTS

Toledoan gets 4 life sentences for raping girl

1/27/2014

For raping a young girl numerous times over a one-year period, a Toledo man was sentenced Tuesday to four life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Hugo Ramallo, 48, of 327 Swift Ave. was found guilty Jan. 16 of four counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition following a jury trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

The victim, who was 7 and 8 when the offenses occurred between September, 2011, and August, 2012, took the stand during the trial. Ramallo also testified, denying he’d committed the acts.

“When you listen to the testimony and evidence presented from both sides, including the defendant’s testimony … it’s a rather disturbing set of facts no matter how you look at it,” Judge Gary Cook said before imposing the consecutive life sentences. “To think that something like this would occur is unfathomable to most anyone in our community.”

Ramallo’s attorney, Esteban Callejas, said his client recognized the seriousness of the offenses and recognized that he had been given his day in court, but he could not show remorse for crimes he insists he did not commit.

“I wish I could get up and say to you he had full remorse, but the fact of the matter is, that would be hypocritical when the man got up and testified that these things didn’t happen,” Mr. Callejas said.

Jennifer Lambdin, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, asked the court for consecutive sentences, saying the young victim indicated the incidents with Ramallo occurred more than 30 times.

Ramallo declined to make a statement when given the opportunity by the court.

Members of the victim’s family were in court but did not make a public statement before sentencing.

Mr. Callejas said Ramallo, who was classified as a sex offender and a child-victim offender, intends to appeal his conviction.