49-year-old West Richland man faces possible life sentence for child rape
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sentencing: Olegario F. Vazquez drew a minimum 18-year term; board can extend to life
- Victim: now in her late 20s, was present but did not speak in court
- Case timeline: abuse discovered 2018; arrest led to seven-year detention pretrial
A 49-year-old man said he’s turned his future over to God before being sentenced for a pattern of sexual abuse.
Olegario F. Vazquez apologized to the victim during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday afternoon in Benton County Superior Court. He previously pleaded guilty to five sex crimes, including child rape in the second degree.
“I feel bad that I cannot do anything about it,” he said with the help of a Spanish interpreter. “I cannot lie in front of God. I live for him. I am not living for myself.”
Vazquez was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison. When he’s finished with that initial sentence, a state review board will determine if he should be released.
Vazquez has been in the Benton County jail since his crimes were discovered in 2018. The case at first was caught in negotiation, and then was delayed with several other cases because of COVID.
The board can decide to extend his sentence up to life in prison. If he is released then he will spend the rest of his life being monitored by the state Department of Corrections.
Attacks went on for years
Deputy Prosecutor Anita Petra described the woman who came forward as an “amazing individual” who helped raise her six siblings.
The woman, who is now in her late 20s, came to the courtroom to watch the sentencing, but didn’t speak.
“It is very, very hard for them to explain to you how much this case has affected them,” Petra said. “I want you to know that it has affected them very much and they are here to see that justice is served.”
Defense Attorney Nicholas Blount said his client had changed his ways while in the Benton County jail waiting for a trial for the past seven years.
“And he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to become a better person,” he said.
Judge Bronson Brown thanked the victim for attending the sentencing. He noted that this was the first time Vazquez had been in trouble with the law.
“That doesn’t mean you weren’t doing anything wrong, because looking into this case, you’ve been doing things for years. You just weren’t ever caught,” he said.
Vazquez raped the victim several times when she was a child. When she resisted, he would force her, court documents said.
The last time, he picked her up from work on June 8, 2018. He then drove her to a parking lot in a park in West Richland. He attacked her in the car, and she was able to escape and called police.