Former Athol man sentenced to 25-30 years in prison for child rape

ATHOL — A Franklin Superior Court judge today imposed a 25- to 30-year prison sentence on a former Athol man who pleaded guilty to 27 charges related to the rape and sexual abuse of three minors.

Jose A. Oquendo, 51, entered the plea Thursday, admitting to a series of charges including four counts of aggravated rape of a child, seven counts of indecent assault and battery of a person over 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery. on a child under 14, assault and battery, and photography of a naked child.

Given the egregious nature of the offenses, Judge David Hodge accepted the Commonwealth's proposed sentencing recommendation.

Northwest Assistant District Attorney Anne Yereniuk, along with Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Jimenez, prosecuted the case and praised the courage of the victims.

“The victims are examples of resilience and heroism,” Yereniuk said. “Without their courage, this defendant would never have been held accountable.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Hodge ordered 5 years probation after Oquendo's release, with stipulations including no contact with victims, mandatory treatment for sex offenders, and sex offender registration .

Yereniuk, in his sentencing memo, emphasized the importance of a harsh sentence to ensure the safety of the community and deal with the “psychological devastation” caused by the accused.

ADA Jimenez commended the Athol Police Department for conducting a thorough and compassionate investigation.

Defense lawyer Isaac Maas had requested a lesser sentence of 15 to 20 years, which was rejected in favor of a harsher sentence.