News Summary
A Salvadoran contractor, Ricardo Mejia, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl during a home renovation. The heinous acts took place while Mejia was illegally in the U.S., raising serious concerns over child safety and contractor responsibilities. After a thorough investigation, he was convicted on multiple charges, and an ICE detainer has been issued due to his immigration status. The community is left reeling from this tragedy, highlighting the need for increased vigilance when hiring contractors for home services.
Virginia Beach – Ricardo Mejia, a Salvadoran contractor, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the repeated rape of an 11-year-old girl during a home renovation project. The crimes occurred while Mejia was illegally in the United States.
Mejia was convicted of three counts of rape of a child under the age of 13 and one count of breaking and entering. An ICE detainer has been issued for him due to his illegal immigration status, confirming that he was a citizen of El Salvador.
The incidents took place after Mejia had been hired to renovate the family’s bathroom. Instead of carrying out his professional duties, he took advantage of the situation to commit heinous acts against the young victim on three separate occasions. The first incident occurred several days before he was apprehended, taking place when the child’s parents were away from home. The subsequent assaults took place during the night in the child’s bedroom.
On October 9, 2024, around 2:30 a.m., the victim’s parents heard unusual noises coming from their daughter’s room. Upon discovering the locked door, they pried it open with a butter knife and found Mejia attempting to escape through the window. During interrogations, Mejia admitted to having entered through the window three times to access the child.
During his sentencing hearing, Mejia expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the pain inflicted on the victim. However, this acknowledgment does not lessen the severity of his crimes, which have left a lasting impact on the child and her family.
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office has confirmed Mejia’s illegal status, reinforcing the seriousness of the situation. Following the completion of his prison sentence, he will be transferred to ICE custody, where his future in the United States will be assessed.
These events have raised significant concerns regarding the safety and security of children and the responsibilities of contractors in the community. Parents and guardians are urged to take extra precautions during home renovations and ensure that all hired workers are vetted thoroughly.
The community is left to grapple with the implications of such a brutal crime perpetrated by an individual who was entrusted to work in a family home. As investigations and legal proceedings continue, the hope is for justice to be fully served and for the victim to receive the necessary support to heal from her traumatic experience.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
El Centro Completes New Police Headquarters
Contractor Charged with Embezzling Funds from Homeowners
Palo Alto Residents Raise Safety Concerns Over Construction Parking
Evansville Contractors Charged with Theft and Fraud
Nebraska Begins Construction of New 1,512-Bed Prison in Lincoln
Construction Begins on Oceanside Transit Center Pedestrian Crossing Extension
Additional Resources
- WTKR: Salvadoran Contractor Convicted
- Wikipedia: Child Sexual Abuse
- WTKR: Contractor Gets 30 Years
- Google Search: Contractor Child Rape Virginia Beach
- Wavy: Man to Plead Not Guilty
- Google Scholar: Child Rape Legal Implications
- Daily Press: Virginia Beach Man Arrested
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Virginia Beach
- WTKR: Contractor Pleads Guilty
- Google News: Virginia Beach Child Rape
Author: STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER
VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg
