Man gets 18 years for rape, assault

HOT SPRINGS — A local man was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for the rape and second-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl following a three-day trial in Garland County Circuit Court.

A seven-man, five-woman jury found Serafin Ramirez Bahena, 22, guilty of both counts after two days of testimony and about 50 minutes of deliberations Thursday evening.

The jury returned Friday to hear more testimony during the sentencing phase and after about 35 minutes of deliberation, recommended a sentence of 12 years in prison on the rape charge and six years on the sexual assault charge. Judge Marcia Hearnsberger elected to make the sentences run consecutively for a total of 18 years.

Deputy Prosecutor Caitlin Birrell, who represented the state at trial along with Deputy Prosecutor Mallory Floyd, noted under sentencing guidelines Bahena will have to serve 70%, or about eight years, on the rape charge.

Birrell said the victim and her family were happy with the outcome of the trial. The victim and her mother testified during both the guilt and sentencing phases of the trial, while Bahena didn’t testify during either phase. Bahena’s mother, two of his brothers, an employer and a family friend testified during the sentencing phase, but only his mother testified during the guilt portion of the trial.

Tyler Tapp, Bahena’s attorney, had conceded Bahena’s guilt on the sexual assault charge during his closing remarks, but argued for the jury to find him not guilty on the rape charge, Floyd said.