Crystal Lake rapist gets 30 years in prison

Calling the crime every woman's worst fear, a McHenry County judge Thursday sentenced a Crystal Lake man to 30 years in prison for the violent rape of a 61-year-old woman in her home.

Javier Molina, 245 W. Terra Cotta, must serve at least 25½ years of the sentence handed down in connection with a June 11, 2006, attack that left the woman with permanent brain damage, hand and leg injuries and emotional trauma she said robbed her of happiness in her life.

"I survived, but it's been harder than anything I could have imagined," the woman said in court. "I am not the same person I was before the attack."

Molina pleaded guilty in October to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault as part of a deal in which McHenry County prosecutors agreed to seek a sentence no longer than 35 years.

Authorities say Molina's victim was home alone when he entered her Crystal Lake residence, punched and elbowed her repeatedly, slammed her head on a floor then raped her before leaving.

Police later found him passed out drunk in a car parked next door. He eventually confessed during police questioning, authorities said.

The attack, the woman said Thursday, left her with multiple concussions, torn thumb ligaments and bruises on more than 60 percent of her body. Even worse, she said, are the mental and emotional consequences that have her constantly fearful and awake several times a night checking her door locks.

"There's very little happiness in my life, and I doubt there ever will be," she said. "Calling (Molina) a man would be an insult to my sons and every other man in my life. Real men don't do this."

Molina did not make a statement when given the opportunity in court. But his attorney described him as remorseful, noted that he has no criminal history and blamed his actions on his extreme intoxication the night of the attack.

"In all my years of doing this, I've never seen a case with facts so severe, and I have a hard time matching those facts up to Mr. Molina," Senior Assistant Public Defender Richard Behof said. "It baffles me the situation my client finds himself in."