Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault
Man Convicted of Raping Norfolk Teenager
NORFOLK, Va. – On Tuesday, 49-year-old Jose Vazquez-Velazquez III was convicted in Norfolk Circuit Court of raping and sodomizing a teenager this summer.
On June 6, the victim’s mother contacted Norfolk Police to report that her 14-year-old daughter texted her saying that she had been kidnapped and that a man had raped her. The victim was familiar with Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez from the neighborhood and told her mother where she was located.
Norfolk Police Special Crimes detectives responded to Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ house on the 300 block of Olney Road, and Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez claimed that he was the only one home. When officers circled the block, they encountered the victim walking down the street. The victim told officers she had been inside Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ residence and was forced out of the house after detectives knocked on the door.
The victim and her mother were transported to the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, and the victim underwent a sexual assault nurse examination. Testing of the victim’s physical evidence recovery later revealed the presence of Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ DNA.
On Tuesday, Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez pleaded guilty to rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, and taking indecent liberties with a child under the age of 15, and Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted his plea agreement with a maximum active sentence of 35 years. He is docketed for sentencing on Jan. 12.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie G. Johnson is prosecuting Mr. Vazquez-Velazquez’ case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Richard J. Wampler led the investigation.
If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to sexual assault, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376, or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.
###