US airman sentenced to over 6 years in jail for raping 12-year-old autistic girl
A US airman stationed in the UK has been jailed for the rape of a 12-year-old girl on the autism spectrum.
Dennis Rocha, 18, engaged the victim in sexual conversations over Snapchat before driving 140 miles (225 km) from Royal Air Force base Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, to meet her in Wiltshire, England.
From there, he took her from her home to a secluded spot, then had sex with her in his car.
Swindon Crown Court heard that the sexual activity was consensual and didn't involve the use of force, according to testimony provided today.
Prosecutor Chris Smyth said the encounter lasted about an hour and that, during that time, the couple had sex multiple times. One such time, the condom slipped off, and the girl told the police: "I'm worried I might be pregnant, and I won't find out until next week."
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The encounter took place in April 2023. The girl has since said she regrets the incident and feels angry with herself — not only because of how the incident impacted her personally but also because of how she feels it may have affected her mother, who reportedly wanted the girl to wait until she was much older and in a loving relationship to have sex for the first time.
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Dennis Rochoa feels guilty about the incident but also claimed it was consensual (Vickie Rocha / Facebook)
Dennis Rocha, 18 and of Beck Row in Mildenhall (Wiltshire Police)In a statement to the police, the mother said her daughter had difficulties with communication and doesn't speak to strangers, make eye contact or socialise well, even with her friends. As such, she's had a hard time navigating a regular curriculum. Her daughter was diagnosed with autism at the age of four.
Rocha was charged with two counts of the rape of a child under age 13 and was sentenced to six years and eight months in jail with a one-year licence extension period. He was also placed on the Disclosure and Barring Service barred list for his actions and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register upon his release in 2030.
The 18-year-old allegedly expressed "genuine remorse" for his actions, but also told Judge Townsend that he felt his victim's consent meant something and was of "some significance."
His barrister, Sam Jones, asked the court to take into consideration Rocha's youth, inexperience and naivety, especially his lack of sexual experience and his loneliness as a result of his overseas placement.
Rocha, who hails from California, had previously been described as a "kind-hearted and gentle young man."
The 18-year-old apologised for his actions via a video link from Bullingdon Prison, telling the family of the young girl that he was sorry. "I wish this never happened... and I am so sorry. I hope you can forgive me and have mercy upon me," he said.
The Judge, however, told Rocha had "ample opportunity to think twice" about his actions, but he "persisted."
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"You knew that she was far younger than you and obviously vulnerable," Judge Townsend said. "The fact she agreed to what was happening is no mitigation due to her age."
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