One man charged in the alleged December 2005 gang rape of a 14-year-old Clinton girl has pled guilty

Dan Hinkel:

Jose Godinez, 35, of 4202 Church St., Clinton, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault of a child younger than 16.

Rock County Judge Alan Bates ordered a pre-sentence investigation requested by Godinez's attorney, Betsy Givhan. The crime carries a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Godinez speaks no English and has about four years of formal schooling, Rock County Judge Al Bates said in court Friday. An interpreter assisted during the hearing.

Godinez is set to be sentenced at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Other men implicated in the case are in various phases of the legal system.

-- Jorge Gil, 19, of 9204 E. Creek Road, Lot 36, Clinton, is charged with sexual assault of a child younger than 16. He left the Rock County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond Dec. 21, 2005, and missed a later court date. A bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

-- Juan P. Rodriguez-Zavala, 21, of 221 Meadow Drive, Beloit, pleaded no contest July 10 to three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, amended from party to sexual assault of a child younger than 16. Bates sentenced Rodriguez-Zavala on July 10 to six months of jail time already served for one of the counts. A bench warrant was issued for Rodriguez-Zavala's arrest July 28 after he missed a court date.

-- Jose Ambriz, 20, of 8901 E. Rye Drive, Clinton, is charged with party to sexual assault of a child younger than 16. A not guilty plea was entered for him by the court at a hearing Dec. 30. The case is pending. A status hearing is set for Sept. 26.

-- Mike Espinoza, 20, 213½ Mill St., Clinton, is charged with party to sexual assault of a child younger than 16. A not guilty plea was entered for him by the court Jan. 26. The case is pending. A status hearing is set for Tuesday, Sept. 26.

According to the criminal complaints:

Gil told a sheriff's detective that he and another man picked up the girl on a Saturday night and took her to Godinez's and Rodriguez-Zavala's apartment. Gil told the detective he and the girl exchanged text messages for about a year and the girl's messages were sexually explicit.

At least six men or boys stripped and fondled the girl in the apartment's kitchen, according to the complaint.

The men are accused of swinging the girl by her arms and ankles. One of the men or boys bit her lip while she was pinned to the bed and another admitted having sex with the girl without knowing her name or age, according to the complaints.

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