A defendant sentenced to 15 years in prison for pedophilia

Pedro Mateo Baltazar, 30, 3601 Triangle Court, will serve 15 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to child molestation.

Baltazar will serve his entire sentence, Bartholomew Superior Court Judge James Worton said. However, he will get credit for the 590 days (one year, seven months and two days) he has already spent in prison.

Although the DOC offers treatment programs, Worton said Baltazar is not eligible to participate in them due to the nature of his offense.

No witnesses were testified at Tuesday's sentencing hearing. But court officials say they were informed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ordered Baltazar detained before his release from prison.

This so-called “ICE take” does not necessarily mean that Baltazar will be deported to his native Mexico. Federal authorities say this is simply an opportunity for immigration officials to take a closer look at Baltazar and his case before a decision is made on whether to open a case. eviction procedure.

But at last month's change of plea hearing, Worton said he thought it was likely Baltazar would be deported.

The victim is a girl who was 13 years old when the assault occurred on October 17, 2022. After being arrested by Columbus police, Baltazar was formally charged on November 2, 2022 with child molestation as a level 1 felony, of child molestation as a Level 1 felony. 4 felony and providing alcohol to a minor as a Class B misdemeanor.

But in a plea agreement accepted by both parties on May 6, Baltazar pleaded guilty to a single count, that of child molestation, a level 3 felony. The agreement provided that the sentence carried out would not exceed 15 years, with all other charges dismissed.

Although Baltazar pleaded guilty, he did not admit in court to forcing the victim to engage in sexual acts with him. Speaking through an interpreter, the accused told the court he did not remember what happened because he was too drunk at the time.

However, Baltazar said through an interpreter that he would accept responsibility for anything the victim and witnesses said about the assault.