An appeals court has affirmed the conviction of a man accused of molesting a 4-year-old girl at a rural Lawrence day care center.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that a Kansas Court of Appeals panel found that there was sufficient evidence to sentence 71-year-old Richard Gonzalez to two sentences of 25 years to life for aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
The panel did order that Gonzalez’s sentence delete the requirement that Gonzalez be subjected to lifetime electronic monitoring if paroled. The court said only the parole officials can order that condition.
Gonzalez was accused of molesting the girl during nap times in 2009. Defense attorneys had argued the girl has an overactive imagination and that investigators improperly interviewed her.
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