CEDAR CITY – A Cedar City man currently in prison for sexually abusing a child pleaded guilty Tuesday in a separate case involving similar crimes.

Fifth District Judge Keith Barnes sentence Alejandro Alvarado, 40, to a minimum of 15 years to life in the Utah State penitentiary on one first-degree felony for aggravated sexual abuse of a child.

Alvarado is currently serving the same time for a separate case he was convicted on in 2015. In that case, he was found guilty of three first-degree felonies for aggravated sexual abuse of a child.

Barnes ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

In the latest case, Alvarado was originally charged with four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies, and two counts of lewdness involving a child, both class A misdemeanors. All of the charges except one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Alvarado told the court, via a translator, he was sorry for his crimes.

Barnes sentenced him the same day he pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to court documents filed in support of the charges, the abuse of the victim began when she was approximately 7 years old and continued for 12 years. She came forward in 2014 to report the incidents to authorities.

In the 2014 case, the female victim was sexually abused for nearly 10 years beginning with the first incident at the age of five years old in 2002.

Reports described the perpetrator forcing himself on the victim multiple times, going as far as to rape her on many occasions.

As the case proceeded through court, the defendant threatened the safety of the victim through acquaintances of the family. Authorities took the threat seriously.

“A significant threat to the safety of the victim and witnesses could occur if the suspect had the opportunity contact or engage them,” the investigating officer said in his report.

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