15-05-2025
Man receives sentence after plea deal in attempted rape case involving young victim
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A man who was arrested last fall on a warrant from Mahoning County for attempted rape entered an Alford Plea on Thursday to a charge of gross sexual imposition in Common Pleas Court.
Isaias Colon, 34, of Youngstown, was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Anthony D'Apolito on the charge, a third-degree felony.
The sentence was recommended by the attorneys in the case and adopted by the judge.
An Alford Plea means a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to find them guilty.
A grand jury on June 6 issued a secret indictment against Colon.
One of the charges was attempted rape, which could have resulted in a sentence of 10 years to life in prison because the victim in the case is under 13.
That charge was dropped in exchange for Colin's plea.
Assistant Prosecutor Caitlyn Andrews said the victim in the case was six years old when the criminal conduct took place.
Andrews said she explained to the victim's mother what the plea meant and that if she had gone to trial, the victim would have had to testify, and the victim's mother did not want that to happen.
Andrews said the mother understood and agreed with the plea.
In a statement, the victim's mother said her child will never be the same.
'What was taken from her can not be restored,' she said. 'She carries shame even though the shame is not hers.'
'I don't know if she'll ever feel normal again.'
Defense attorney Joe Ohlin said his client still maintains his innocence but did not want to take the chance of a potential life sentence.
Colon was singing 'God is good' and other songs with unintelligible lyrics before the judge came into court. At one point, he told the judge, 'God bless you' when Judge D'Apolito went over his rights with him.
Through an interpreter, Colon said: 'Today looks cloudy, but tomorrow will be a better day.'
Also through the interpreter, Colon said he was asking God to help the family and forgive them.
In broken English, Colon said he lost his marriage and that he feels bad for his children.
'I never do nothing against my child.'
Judge D'Apolito said that because there was no trial, no one may ever know what happened.
'If you did do it, then five years is not enough,' the judge said.
Colon was not arrested until October, when he was found in Puerto Rico. He initially refused extradition back to Mahoning County, but he was eventually returned Dec. 6.
Colon has been held without bond since his return from Puerto Rico.
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