State v. Jose Eugenio Escobar-Argueta, C-08-CR-22-000416
LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, September 21, 2023, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Jose Eugenio Escobar-Argueta, 34, of Waldorf, to 10 years in prison for Sexual Solicitation of a Minor, Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense, and Fourth-Degree Attempted Sexual Offense. Upon release, Escobar-Argueta will be on supervised probation for 5 years.
On July 26, 2023, a Charles County jury convicted Escobar-Argueta of the above listed charges.
On January 30, 2022, an officer from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Waldorf residence and met with the 9-year-old victim. The victim reported that she was sexually touched by Escobar-Argueta in the early morning hours prior to the officer’s arrival.
An investigation revealed that Escobar-Argueta was a family friend who was present at the victim’s residence for a party. While the victim was asleep in a bedroom, Escobar-Argueta asked her parents to use the restroom, but instead entered the victim’s bedroom.
The victim woke up and discovered Escobar-Argueta lying next to her. Escobar-Argueta began touching the victim inappropriately. Escobar-Argueta also requested to perform sexual acts on the victim. The victim refused his requests and did not want Escobar-Argueta to touch her.
The victim tried to leave the bedroom but was unable because Escobar-Argueta locked the door prior to entering the bed. The victim’s mother was able to break into the room. Escobar-Argueta was then brought out of the room.
Sentence
Count 1
- Sexual Solicitation of a Minor
- 10 Years, suspend all but 8 years in prison
Count 2
- Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense
- 1 year
- Consecutive to Count 1
Count 5
- Fourth-Degree Attempted Sexual Offense
- 1 year
- Consecutive to Counts 1 and 2
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