HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - A man accused of groping a girl in a church in Maryland while holding his infant daughter has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Elmer Ayala, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree assault, Herald-Mail Media reported. Other charges of third- and fourth-degree sex offenses were dropped as a part of the plea agreement.
Ayala was holding his infant daughter in April when he groped the teenage girl as she walked down a hallway at the church in Hagerstown, the newspaper reported based on court documents. The girl told police Ayala smiled and “laughed it off” when she objected.
“I just want you to know you hurt me physically and mentally,” the girl told Ayala. “You ruined my happiness.”
“You can’t hurt somebody without expecting some kind of consequences,” Washington County Circuit Judge Brett Wilson said.
Ayala was sentenced to two years in jail with all but the 30 days suspended. Wilson also placed Ayala on 18 months probation with orders to have no contact with minors other than his own children.
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