Usana faces 11 life sentences for child rape | News

On Friday, a jury found Tysone Benavidez Usana guilty of harassing and raping a girl he had known for years.

Usana was 29 years old when she reported to police in 2019 that a 16-year-old girl had touched her private parts and repeatedly raped her since she was about 8 years old.

His case went to trial this week. It was a second trial after a hung jury could only agree on a misdemeanor charge when he is first tried in 2023.

This time it took the jury just 30 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict: guilty on each of the 19 total charges.

The girl testified that she was about 8 years old when it started, 12 or 13 when it stopped, and that she was 16 in 2019 when Usana was arrested and charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Court documents state that as a teenager, the abuse occurred almost daily. As he got older, he started fighting with her and it happened less frequently, according to the documents.

The victim moved away after that but returned to give evidence last year. He continues to reside elsewhere.

On Friday, more than five years after his arrest, Usana, wearing a white shirt and khaki pants, was emotionless as the results were announced.

He looked back twice, looked at his family in the public gallery area, and kept his arms and hands at his sides.

Usana was found guilty of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct on the first charge, six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct on the second charge, six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct on the third charge, one count of criminal sexual conduct. first-degree criminal sexual conduct on the fourth charge and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct on the fifth charge.

Excluding the misdemeanor charge for which he was found guilty last year, a total of 19 counts of criminal sexual conduct were read to him as he and defense attorney Joseph Razzano heard the verdicts.

Deputy Attorney General Christine Tenorio successfully prosecuted the case after supporting the attorney general’s directive to reindict Usana following last year’s mistrial. Tenorio and his team, which included investigator William AK Salisbury, paralegals Zina Lubasan and Pauline Chaco, and victim advocate Lorraine Rivera, were successful in their prosecution goals even after the victim’s parents testified against their daughter.

Usana waived his right to summary sentencing, which required his sentence to be handed down within 10 days. After Usana waived this right, Guam Superior Court Judge Alberto E. Tolentino announced that Usana’s sentencing will be at 10 a.m. on January 6, 2025. He directed the parole office to submit Usana’s pre-sentence report by December 23.

Razzano recommended to the court that Usana be released pending sentencing, noting that he has been compliant in every respect since posting $15,000 bail in June 2019. Tenorio said his office’s policy was to recommend prison time until sentencing because he was no longer innocent, but deferred to the judge. Tolentino allowed Usana to continue her current release conditions until January 6.

Guam Attorney General Douglas Moylan credited the victim, now 22, for his patience and courage. He said he recently graduated from college and wanted to convey his deep appreciation to the jury, the judge and the AG’s office for the opportunity to get closure.

“He is a strong example of the struggle of CSC crime victims,” Moylan said.