Man Sentenced On Rape Of Child Charges In Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A man has been sentenced in Loudoun County court on charges including rape of a child, the Commonwealth's Attorney's office said.

Rigoberto Mendoza-Baires, 57, had been convicted on two counts of rape of a child (less than 13 years of age) and one count of aggravated sexual battery. A judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison, and Mendoza-Baires will be required to register as a sex offender for life, per the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office started investigating in February 2024 after receiving a report of sexual misconduct with a minor girl known to Mendoza-Baires. The investigation revealed that Mendoza-Baires had sexual intercourse with the girl at least two times, prosecutors say.

Mendoza-Baires took a plea agreement. Prosecutors agreed with the plea agreement due to his age and the likelihood of deportation following the sentence. Prosecutors told the court that the victim and her family supported the plea agreement because it provided certainty in the outcome and spared the victim from testifying.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family," said Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Anderson in a statement. "I would like to thank the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation. Our community will not tolerate anyone who abuses children, and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County will do its part to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes."