Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for abuse and human trafficking of a minor in Santiago Rodríguez
A court in the Santiago Rodríguez province handed down a 20-year prison sentence against Dionis de Jesús Saint-Hilaire Gómez, after he was found guilty of committing serious crimes against a 14-year-old minor. The judicial decision comes after a solid investigation presented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which managed to prove the defendant’s responsibility in acts of sexual assault, physical and psychological abuse, as well as human trafficking.
The file details that the victim was subjected to repeated assaults that violated her fundamental rights. The judicial process, which gained momentum after the minor’s rescue in February 2024 by the authorities of Santiago de los Caballeros, was led by prosecutor Rafael Bueno, who presented a robust body of evidence before the Collegiate Court of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of Santiago Rodríguez.
The sentence is the result of a judicial process supported by an exhaustive investigation, the proceedings of which formally began after the rescue of the minor, guaranteeing from the very first moment the necessary protection for the young girl.
Sumaya Rodríguez, chief prosecutor of Santiago Rodríguez
Compelling evidence for an exemplary conviction
During the trial, the Public Prosecutor’s Office presented evidentiary elements that were validated by the court as legal, useful, and relevant. Among the key pieces of evidence that supported the 20-year sentence are:
- Detailed medico-legal evaluations.
- Specialized psychological reports.
- Victim testimony obtained through the Gesell Chamber interview, a fundamental tool to protect the minor’s emotional integrity during the process.
Judges Katia Nebot, Dayanara Peralta, and Risel Peña Morel determined that the defendant violated various articles of the Penal Code and Law 136-03, which regulates the system for the protection of the fundamental rights of children and adolescents. The sentenced individual must serve the sentence in the public jail of the Santiago Rodríguez province.
The commitment of Dominican justice to childhood
This case underscores the firm stance of the Dominican judicial system against sexual crimes against minors. Law 136-03 establishes rigorous protection mechanisms to ensure that minors are not exposed to situations of vulnerability or exploitation. The use of the Gesell Chamber, as occurred in this case, avoids revictimization, allowing justice to act effectively while safeguarding the well-being of those affected.
