RENO, Nev. (AP) - A 35-year-old sexual assault suspect who disappeared during his trial in Reno in 2016 but later was captured in Mexico and convicted has been sentenced to nine life terms in prison.
Selvin Zecena-Valdez was convicted last year of 10 felony counts related to the sexual assault of a female relative under the age of 14 over the course of three years.
Sparks police originally arrested him in 2015.
He had been released on $560,000 bail when his trial began in October 2016. He testified on his own behalf but failed to appear the following day when cross-examination was set to resume.
A bail bondsman eventually tracked him down in Veracruz, Mexico and federal marshals returned him to Washoe County last August.
Prosecutors said Friday he’d have to serve 198 years before he could be considered for parole.
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