ARIZONA NEWS

Mesa man sentenced to life in prison for sexual abuse of a child

Jul 11, 2022, 4:00 PM
Hugo Molina-Torres (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)...
Hugo Molina-Torres (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)

PHOENIX — A Mesa man was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl, authorities said Monday.

Hugo Molina-Torres, 33, was found guilty in April on felony charges of molestation of a child and sexual conduct with a minor, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

The girl in March 2021 told a school resource officer of the abuse that dated to 2020, authorities said.

Mesa police said an investigation took place and Torres admitted to the crimes.

“This case is an excellent example of school personnel, law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office working together to bring justice to a victim of sexual abuse,” Interim Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the release.

“Thanks to the courage of this victim, along with the work of the trusted adults in her life, this perpetrator will no longer be able to abuse any other child in our community.”

Torres has the possibility of community supervision after 35 years, authorities said.

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Mesa man sentenced to life in prison for sexual abuse of a child