Judge denies bond for accused rapist of girl who traveled across state-lines for abortion

Gerson Fuentes, the Guatamalan man who has been accused of raping a 9-year-old (now 10) in a case that gained national attention due to her having to cross state lines to get an abortion, has been denied bond.

As reported by The Associated Press, Franklin County Judge Julie Lynch said that Fuentes represents “a substantial flight risk,” and the Judge Lynch also said that there is significant evidence to say that Fuentes is living in the United States illegally.   

Judge Lynch also highlighted “physical and mental and emotional trauma” of not only what allegedly happened to the girl at the hands of Fuentes, but also the additional burden of having to travel to Indiana to have an abortion.

Lynch concluded by noting that Fuentes lived at the same address as the girl and “to allow him to return to that home, the traumatic and psychological impact would be undeserving to an alleged victim.”

Fuentes has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his lawyer Bryan Bowen asked for bond, stating that there was a lack of evidence of physical abuse, he also stated that Fuentes had family ties and a job in Columbus and has no criminal history.

“We’ve heard evidence about the nature of the offense, but we have not heard any evidence presented about any danger that Mr. Fuentes would pose to any particular person or to the community,” Bowen said.

The girl in question travelled across state lines to get an abortion as “trigger laws” in Ohio made it difficult to obtain one in her own state. According to The New York Post, Ohio’s abortion ban makes an exception only in cases of emergency that is deemed to be life-threatening or involving a “serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.”

Fuentes faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted.