A Fort Campbell soldier was sentenced to seven years in prison Wednesday in Christian County Circuit Court for engaging in sexual relations with a minor.
23-year-old Jose Mendoza, who has a Clarksville address, pled guilty in February to third-degree rape, third-degree sodomy, and unlawful transaction with a minor involving a sex act.
He was originally indicted by a Christian County grand jury on charges of rape and sodomy for having sexual relations with a minor under the age of 14 on three occasions in December 2020.
Mendoza’s attorney Michael Thompson asked the court for his client to be probated so that he could continue to serve in the military and attend court-ordered classes.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen disagreed, saying Mendoza still had not taken full responsibility for his actions despite a guilty plea.
click to download audioMendoza asked Judge John Atkins for probation saying he is a different man now than he was in 2020.
click to download audioJudge Atkins sentenced Mendoza to seven years on the unlawful transaction with a minor charge and five years each on the rape charge and sodomy charge with them to run concurrent for a total of seven years.
