An illegal immigrant from El Salvador, Ricardo Lionel Mejia, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in Virginia Beach. Mejia, 35, was sentenced following his guilty plea to multiple charges, including three counts of raping a victim under the age of 13 and indecent liberties with a child under 15.
The case drew significant attention, prompting the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office to release his mugshot as they received many inquiries about his legal status. Mejia was arrested on October 9, 2024, and is set to serve his time at a Virginia Department of Corrections facility before facing deportation proceedings with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The assaults occurred in 2024 while Mejia was working in the victim’s home. The child’s mother intervened by forcing open her daughter’s locked bedroom door, discovering Mejia inappropriately with her daughter. Mejia attempted to escape but was later apprehended.
During sentencing, he expressed remorse, stating, “I know I am not the only one experiencing hard times. I’m sorry for the pain she is going through in this process.”
In the backdrop of this troubling case, political tensions rise as Abigail Spanberger, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has suggested overturning current immigration policies established by Governor Glenn Youngkin. This move could potentially prevent local law enforcement from collaborating with ICE on matters such as Mejia’s.
In response to the incident, Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears expressed her outrage, emphasizing the lasting impact this crime will have on the young victim’s life.
Earle-Sears further criticized Spanberger for promoting sanctuary state policies, asking how many more children need to be harmed before acknowledging the failures of such immigration strategies. The conversation continues among voters as they grapple with issues of safety and immigration policy in Virginia.
