Honduras man sentenced for child rape in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — A Honduras man who was illegally living in the country was sentenced on March 24 after he pled guilty to raping a 9-year-old victim, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

47-year-old Marvin Pineda was sentenced to 12 to 15 years in state prison followed by ten years of supervised probation for aggravated rape of a child, indecently touching a child, and witness intimidation.

On Oct. 10, 2020, Pineda, who was an acquaintance of the 9-year-old victim’s family, was at the victim’s home in New Bedford for a family birthday party.

As the night advanced, Pineda’s two minor children, along with the victim and her sister, went upstairs to go to sleep. The victim’s family offered Pineda to sleep on the couch instead of waking up his sleeping children.

The next morning, the family did not find the defendant on the couch and discovered he had left the home with his children.

The 9-year-old victim reported Pineda had entered her room and raped her by “digitally penetrating her,” according to the Bristol County DA’s Office.

She was taken to a local hospital, and a rape kit discovered Pineda’s sperm cells on the victim’s body.

The victim’s 7-year-old sister slept in the same bed as the victim and was a witness of the rape.

The defendant fled Massachusetts on Oct. 11, 2020, but was discovered in Texas and brought back to Massachusetts in November 2020.

On Oct. 18, 2020, Pineda contacted the mother of the victim and asked her not to pursue charges and offered compensation, which she reported to police, according to the Bristol County DA’s Office.

The Bristol County DA’s Office said the defendant is facing similar charges in North Carolina with another victim.