Sex assault suspect guilty 10 years later

FALLON (AP) " A sexual assault suspect and illegal immigrant who fled Churchill County more than a decade ago has plead guilty to the crime in Fallon.

Jorge Ernesto Gonzalez was charged in March 1998 after he was accused of forcing a Fallon woman to have sex with him against her will. A year later, he failed to show up for his preliminary hearing.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Tom Stockard says Gonzalez had been on the run since 1999 before he was arrested three weeks ago on an unrelated crime in Yerington. A check of police records turned up the outstanding warrant.

Gonzalez originally was charged with sexual assault but the charge was reduced to attempted sexual assault as part of a plea deal.

He faces two to 20 years in prison at his sentencing set for July 7. However, he also could be eligible for probation if a psychiatric evaluation determines he is not a high-risk offender. In that case, he would be deported to Mexico.