Today, September 18, 2012, in Muscatine County District Court, a jury found MATTHEW ELI VILLALPANDO (DOB: 11/14/1986, of 416 W. 3rd Street, Muscatine) guilty of the offense of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree following a two day trial. In addition, the jury found that VILLALPONDO had been adjudicated delinquent in 2003 for Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree. The Hon. Mark Cleve presided.
Evidence presented to the jury showed that the defendant performed a sex act against a person who was fourteen years of age while the defendant was 23 years of age. The case was investigated by the Muscatine Police Department. The incident occurred October 30, 2010, in a residence in Muscatine.
"I would like to thank the jury for their consideration of this case," said Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren. "I would also like to thank Muscatine Police Department detectives Mark Lawrence and Joe Roseman who did an excellent job on the investigation. Most importantly, I want to thank the victim who had the strength to go to court to tell what happened. The jury believed the victim and held the defendant accountable" he added.
As a result of VILLALPONDO's prior adjudication of delinquency he faces a mandatory prison sentence of incarceration for a term not to exceed 25 years and must serve 85 percent (21 years, four months) before being eligible for parole. "The defendant is a repeat sex offender and was a real danger to the community. I am grateful that he will be facing a mandatory prison sentence," Ostergren said.
The Court revoked the defendant's bond and ordered him held in the Muscatine County Jail to await a sentencing hearing on November 9, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.
