A 31-year-old Peruvian native was sentenced Monday to six and a half years in prison for sexual involvement in 2010 with a 16-year-old Ketchum girl.
Vicente Manturano-Soto will be required to spend two and half years in prison before parole eligibility. He was given credit for more than seven months already spent behind bars following his arrest in November. Once released, he will likely be deported.
He was also fined $2,000 and will be required to register as a sex offender.
Originally charged with four counts of rape, Manturano-Soto pleaded guilty in March to a single count of sexual battery of a minor child. The plea was in accord with an agreement with the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
A Blaine County grand jury indictment against Manturano-Soto in November alleged that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with the girl from May through June of 2010.
In court Monday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Fredback described Manturano-Soto as a "close friend" of the victim's family and said he often drove the girl to school or to counseling for a previous episode of sexual abuse.
"He was aware that she was vulnerable because of her age as well as her previous abuse," Fredback said.
He said Manturano-Soto took advantage of the girl's vulnerability to engage in a sexual relationship with her.
"The victim relayed that this happened about 10 times," Fredback said.
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He further noted that the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has filed a charge against Manturano-Soto alleging that he is an illegal immigrant.
"It appears that while he initially came into this country legally, that expired in 2001 and he continued to stay in this country," Fredback said.
Defense attorney Douglas Nelson noted that his client only pleaded guilty to sexual battery of a child.
"We are here because Vicente admitted basically to making out with this girl, and he's denied anything other than that," Nelson said.
He said Manturano-Soto has recognized what he did was wrong and completed a 10-week course while in jail on moral recognition therapy. Further, Nelson said his client has been a "model prisoner" and has served as a jail trusty.
Speaking through a court interpreter, Manturano-Soto apologized for his actions.
"The truth is I feel very bad about this," he said. "What I did was wrong. I know that God loves all his children and I ask you for forgiveness."
Fifth District Judge Robert J. Elgee said he would have given Manturano-Soto more prison time if not for steps the defendant has taken to improve his life.
"I recognize that you have expressed remorse and you have tried to improve yourself while in jail," Elgee said. "But what you did was a bad act, even if you only did what you've admitted to.
"I happen to believe you did more than you've admitted to. She was half your age. The law is designed to protect young girls who are not adults from older men like you. I know that what you did was not forcible, but the sentence is because of her age."
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
