A Bloomington man who was imprisoned for more than a year following his arrest on suspicion of sexually abusing children entered a guilty plea to one of the most serious charges brought against him.
Marquez-Ayala pleaded guilty to a single count of predatory criminal sexual assault
The 36-year-old Wilmer Marquez-Ayala was due in court on Monday to answer to nine felony charges involving the same child victim. Instead, Marquez-Ayala chose to admit guilt to just one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, sparing the victim the agony of being forced to give a trial testimony.
Wilmer A. Marquez-Ayala, 35, of Bloomington, was apprehended on nine McLean County warrants in March 2022, according to a FOX 2 NEWS report. This was the outcome of a sex offense investigation that began in November.
Police discovered during the inquiry that Marquez-Ayala had sexually molested a child for about a year. No more details will be shared in order to protect the victim.
Six of the accusations are for aggravated criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than 18 who is also a family member, according to arrest records. Predatory criminal sexual assault on a victim under 13 is the subject of the other three charges.
Once at the McLean County Jail, where his bond has been set at $1 million, Marquez-Ayala was taken there.
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Marquez-Ayala Conviction
25 NEWS reported that Marquez-Ayala must serve 85% of his six to 60 year jail term for his conviction.
Ever since his arrest in March of last year, Marquez-Ayala has been detained on a $1 million bond.
On September 8, McLean County Court will sentence him.
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