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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County approves $339 million budget ... Hunting trophies could get price tags ... Oregon races to finalize rules for marijuana, issue licenses ... Jackson County approves $339 million budget ... Hunting trophies could get price tags ... Oregon races to finalize rules for marijuana, issue licenses ... BEGS FOR FORGIVENESS Man who took Oregon 11-year-old to Mexico sentenced to 23 years Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 7, 2016 at 5:35 PM By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 7, 2016 at 5:35 PM » Social News SALEM — A Mexican man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for raping an Oregon girl he abducted nearly a decade ago. Raul Xalamihua-Espindola was 19 years old in 2007 when he took an 11-year-old Keizer girl to Mexico. The girl left a note for her parents that said she was running away with her boyfriend. Friends of the girl told police she had a boyfriend named "Raul." Police determined a man of that name had lived in the same apartment complex. Authorities found the girl in Mexico several months later and brought her back to Oregon. The suspect avoided capture for many years and it took additional time for him to be extradited. In May, he pleaded guilty to first-degree rape. The Statesman Journal reports that Xalamihua-Espindola dropped to his knees Monday and asked the judge for forgiveness. Through a translator, he said it's common in Mexico for girls to marry older men, and he didn't realize he was committing a crime. "Are you saying that in your culture, taking an 11-year-old from her home without her parents' permission to have sex with her is acceptable?" Marion County Judge David Leith asked him. "Yes, all of that is acceptable," Xalamihua-Espindola replied. Leith said it was not his role to dispense forgiveness: "That would be for the victims of the crimes to decide." Leith said he wanted the sentence to match the enormity of the crime. "In our culture, these are among the most serious crimes that can be committed," he said, adding he did not believe abducting, kidnapping and raping children would be acceptable in any culture. The victim and her family did not attend the hearing. Deputy District Attorney Tobias Tingleaf said they were satisfied with the resolution. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 7, 2016 at 5:35 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501