Convicted child molester sentenced to stayed prison term; Fernandez gets 180 days in jail

Published 8:11 am Friday, July 14, 2017

An Albert Lea man convicted of child molestation was sentenced to a stayed prison term of three years in Mower County District Court on Thursday.

Carlos Francisco Fernandez, 68

Carlos Francisco Fernandez, 68, must spend 180 days in jail and serve 25 years of probation. He must follow 31 conditions of that probation if he wants to avoid time in prison. He must also pay $3,585 in fees.

He received credit for three days served.

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Fernandez was convicted on two counts of felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under the age of 13 in April. He was acquitted on a charge of felony first-degree sexual conduct.

According to the complaint, Fernandez had sexual contact with the victim for whom he babysat in March 2012. Austin authorities were given information about the abuse when the victim was 6 years old, but the abuse may have happened when he was 3 or 4 years old.

Parents of the victim were apparently aware of the allegations a year before authorities received the information and did not allow Fernandez, who was living in Austin at the time, to have contact with the victim.

The victim disclosed the abuse when he refused to go to Fernandez’s home. The victim’s mother said Fernandez admitted he abused the victim on three occasions.