Augusta man sentenced to three life sentences for raping, impregnating child

After three days of trial, an Augusta man was convicted of raping and molesting a child.

Roberto Ayala Figueroa, 57, was convicted of two counts of rape, child molestation, aggravated sexual battery and criminal attempt to commit aggravated child molestation. Judge Daniel Craig sentenced Figueroa to three life sentences, followed by 39 years of consecutive prison time.

Figueroa was from New York, where he worked at a local church, according to a news release from the Augusta District Attorney's Office. He became the sole caretaker for the victim and several other children.

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When the victim was 13 years old, the family moved to Augusta and he began molesting her, according to the release. The assault started with touching and escalated to abusive sexual acts and rape.

A child was born as a result and the DNA matched Figueroa, according to the release. Due to legal barriers in the rules of evidence, the jury was not allowed to learn the full extent of the multiple children he molested and raped while in his care.

“If you believe every word that [the victim] said, then you have more than enough,” assistant district attorney Sarah Elizabeth Strickland stated in closing arguments.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta man convicted of raping child