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Teen Faces Sentencing In Robbery/Rape of GVSU Student

Posted at 12:25 PM, Jan 15, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-15 12:25:50-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A 14-year-old may remain in juvenile detention until he turns 19 after he and another juvenile robbed and raped a Grand Valley State student in September.

Marco Vasquez has already pled guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Kent County Family Circuit Court.

On the night of September 10, Vasquez and Felipe Lopez-Velasquez, 16, followed the victim home from a bus stop near John Ball Zoo. The two then overpowered the woman, robbed her, and eventually raped her.

If Vasquez is released from detention and commits a felony before he is 19, he can be given an adult sentence no less than 135 months, up to a life sentence.

Vasquez was giving a chance to address the family and court. He said simply, “I’m sorry to the victim. It was wrong.”

The prosecution has requested Vasquez write a more thorough apology during his time in detention.