GREENFIELD — A Greenfield man told police he was ready to “pay for everything” he had done after being accused of sexually assaulting a young girl repeatedly, according to court documents.
Prosecutors this week filed a series of sexual assault charges against Francisco Mendoza, 37, 749 Runnymede Court, Greenfield, after a girl came forward to tell investigators the man had forced her to engage in sex acts, police said.
Mendoza faces five sexual assault felony counts, including a Class A felony charge of child molesting, which carries a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, and a Class B felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, records show.
Mendoza declined to speak with police about the accusations.
During an interview at the Greenfield Police Department earlier this week, he said to officers, “I am going to pay for everything I have done,” before asking to speak with an attorney, according to court documents.
A girl came forward Monday to tell investigators Mendoza repeatedly abused her over a period of five years while he was helping care for her, court documents state.
Mendoza would come into the girl’s bedroom while she was sleeping at night and fondle her, the girl told police. As time passed the abuse progressed to other sexual acts, court documents state.
The girl said she initially was afraid to come forward about the abuse because she was fearful it would cause problems for her loved ones, court documents state.
She had once tried to confide in an adult she trusted about the abuse, court documents state. The girl said that person confronted Mendoza but did nothing else after Mendoza denied the accusations, court documents state.
The girl told police she now abuses drugs and alcohol to “deal with her issues” and she has thought about suicide, according to court documents. Recently, she began disclosing details about the abuse to friends because she was looking for help, court documents state.
Greenfield police detectives brought Mendoza to the police station for an interview Monday. Mendoza acknowledged that he knew of the girl’s accusations but told police he wanted to speak to an attorney before providing a statement for their investigation, court documents state.
Mendoza was booked into the Hancock County Jail late Monday on a preliminary charge of child molest, according to jail records. Prosecutors filed formal criminal allegations against the man Wednesday afternoon, records show.