Worthington man sentenced on sex charges

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WORTHINGTON — Daniel Lee Valdez, 42, of Worthington, was sentenced to 70 and 60 months in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty last month to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Valdez will serve the two sentences concurrently, and will only serve two-thirds — less than 47 months — if he behaves in prison.

He was charged in October 2007 with three first- and three second-degree counts of criminal sexual conduct after another county forwarded concerns of alleged criminal sexual conduct taking place in Nobles County. The criminal behavior, it is reported, took place over a two-month period, even though the victim told Valdez he was a bad man and asked him to stop.

The victim’s stepfather said Tuesday he is glad the court case is over.

“We are disgusted by the whole ordeal,” said the step-father, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim. “I’m glad he got what was coming to him.”

He is also glad, he said, that the system worked, and that Valdez will be punished for his crimes.

During the sentencing hearing, Nobles County Attorney Gordon Moore pointed out that the pre-sentence investigation suggested Valdez had made some continued efforts to suggest the victim was responsible.

“She was a juvenile. He was expected to conform his behavior to the law,” Moore added. “Apparently Valdez is still struggling to understand healthy boundaries.”

The victim, who knows the family of Valdez, reportedly feels guilty for being the cause of Valdez being removed from his home.

Defense attorney Louis Kuchera told Judge Timothy Connell Valdez has difficulty reading and writing and claims to be illiterate, and asked that he be given credit for time served, which amounts to 299 days.

When given a chance to comment, Valdez said, “I’m sorry to the family. I know I was wrong, and I wanted the family to know I’m sorry for what I did.”

After Valdez serves his sentence, he is subject to 10 years of conditional release, no contact with the victim or any females under the age of 18 unless supervised and must complete adult sex offender treatment. He is also ordered to provide restitution to an inmate he allegedly assaulted while in the Nobles County Jail.

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