Rigoberto Ventura
COVINGTON—Rigoberto Ventura, 57, was sentenced Monday (July 13) to life in prison for the aggravated rape of a boy, who was 5 years old when the abuse started. District Judge Scott C. Gardner also sentenced Ventura, who lived in Lacombe, to 50 years in prison for the sexual battery of a girl, then 7 or 8.
Ventura was convicted of the charges on June 24. Assistant District Attorneys Jason Cuccia and William Macke prosecuted the case.
The allegations first surfaced against Ventura in 2011, when the male victim revealed to a substance abuse counselor that Ventura had raped and sexually abused him from age 5 until he was about 10. The counselor notified family members, who reported the abuse to the Slidell Police Department. Less than a year later, the second victim reported that Ventura had touched her inappropriately under her clothing on two occasions when she was 7 or 8 years old.
The mother of the girl who was victimized read a statement during Ventura’s sentencing.
“You are so evil and weak. You could prey on these children because they were so young and vulnerable,” she said. “They cannot defend themselves or fight you off…”