Trigger Warning: Child Sexual Abuse
Man Sentenced to 20 Years Following Guilty Plea to Raping Child Over 3-Year Period
NORFOLK, Va. — Jose Antonio Canas-Olivares, 41, was sentenced on Friday to serve 20 years in prison for three counts of raping a child. The victim, who was between the ages of 9 and 12 at the time of Mr. Canas-Olivares’ abuse, reported Mr. Canas-Olivares to trusted adults and Norfolk Police in early 2023.
On Feb. 29, Mr. Canas-Olivares entered an agreement to plead guilty to three counts of raping a child under age 13 and face a maximum sentence of 20 years to serve in prison. Judge Mary Jane Hall deferred her acceptance of the plea agreement pending her review of Mr. Canas-Olivares’ pre-sentence report and psychosexual evaluation.
On Friday, Judge Hall accepted Mr. Canas-Olivares’ plea agreement and sentenced Mr. Canas-Olivares to serve 20 years in prison, suspending another 40 years on the condition that Mr. Canas-Olivares complete five years of uniform good behavior following his release.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Abigail L. Ottinger prosecuted Mr. Canas-Olivares’ case on behalf of the Commonwealth.
“The rape of a child is one of the most serious and devastating crimes a person can commit,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “My thoughts are with the survivor whose bravery helped us hold Mr. Canas-Olivares accountable. Mr. Canas-Olivares’ sentence holds him accountable and protects the children of Norfolk from further harm.”
If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to child abuse, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376 or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.
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