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Usana faces eleven life sentences for raping a child | News

Usana faces eleven life sentences for raping a child | News

A jury found Tysone Benavidez Usana guilty on all counts on Friday for harassing and raping a girl he had known for years.

Usana was 29 when a 16-year-old girl told police in 2019 that he had touched her genitals and continuously raped her since she was about 8 years old.

His case went to trial this week. It was a second trial after a hung jury could not agree on a misdemeanor charge until it was first tried in 2023.

This time the jury took just 30 minutes to deliver their unanimous verdict: guilty on each of the 19 counts.

The girl testified that she was about 8 when it started, 12 or 13 when it stopped, and 16 years old in 2019 when Usana was arrested and charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Court documents show that when she was younger, the abuse occurred almost every day. She fought him as she got older and the documents say it happened less often.

The victim then moved away, but returned last year to testify. She continues to live elsewhere.

On Friday, wearing a white shirt and khaki pants, more than five years after his arrest, Usana was emotionless as the results were announced.

Twice he glanced behind him, looking at his family in the public gallery, and held his arms and hands at his sides.

Usana was found guilty of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in the first indictment, six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in the second indictment, six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in the third indictment, one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in the fourth indictment, and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in the fifth indictment.

Excluding the misdemeanor charge for which he was found guilty last year, that’s a total of 19 counts of criminal sexual conduct that were read to him as he and his attorney Joseph Razzano stood to hear the verdicts.

Assistant Attorney General Christine Tenorio successfully prosecuted the case after supporting the attorney general’s directive to reindict Usana following last year’s mistrial. Tenorio and her team of investigator William AK Salisbury, paralegals Zina Lubasan and Pauline Chaco, and victim advocate Lorraine Rivera were successful in their prosecution goal even after the victim’s parents testified against their daughter.

Usana waived his right to a speedy conviction, which would impose his sentence within ten days. After Usana waived that right, Judge Alberto E. Tolentino of the Supreme Court of Guam stated that Usana’s sentencing would take place on January 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM. He ordered the probation office to submit Usana’s pre-sentence report by December 23.

Razzano advised the court that Usana remain free until sentencing, noting that he has complied in all respects since posting $15,000 bail in June 2019. Tenorio said her office’s policy is to recommend jail time until sentencing as he is no longer innocent but deferred until trial. Tolentino allowed Usana to maintain his current release conditions until January 6.

Guam Attorney General Douglas Moylan thanked the victim, now 22, for her patience and courage. He said she recently graduated from college and wanted to convey her deep appreciation to the jury, judge and AG’s office for the opportunity to bring the case to a close.

“She is a strong example of victims of CSC crimes fighting back,” Moylan said.