BOSTON, May 29, 2012—A Revere man was convicted last week of repeatedly assaulting a teenage girl more than a decade ago, finally being sent to prison after fleeing the charges for more than a decade, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury on Friday found WENCESLAO PANAMENO, Jr. (D.O.B. 2/14/66), a.k.a. ROBERTO GONZALEZ RODRIGUEZ, guilty of two counts of rape of a child under 16, one count of indecent assault and battery on a person under 14, and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, all stemming from his 1997 assaults on the victim, who was 13 and 14 years old at the time.

Conley’s office recommended a term of 15 to 20 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years of probation. Judge Patrick Brady imposed five to seven years in prison followed by three years of probation.

Assistant District Attorney Leora Joseph, chief of Conley’s Child Protection Unit, proved during the two-and-a-half day trial that Panameno, a family member of one of the victim’s friends, made explicit sexual overtures toward the victim and touched her inappropriately in the days and weeks preceding April 30, 1997.

On that date, the evidence showed, the victim was walking home when Panameno spotted her from his car as he drove along North Shore Road. He exited his car, followed her, and assaulted her repeatedly in a nearby back yard.

The victim didn’t immediately disclose the attack, but told a family member and another friend in the weeks that followed. Those disclosures were then reported to Revere Police, who took Panameno into custody on May 26, 2007. Prosecutors asked for $50,000 bail at his subsequent arraignment, but his bail was set at $1,000, which he promptly posted before disappearing.

Panameno remained in default for 13 years before his arrest by Lincoln Police on minor motor vehicle charges. At the time, he was carrying an identification card from the Commonwealth of Virginia identifying him as “Roberto Gonzalez Rodriguez,” but his fingerprints identified him as Panameno and showed that he was wanted on multiple warrants – including one for the 1997 rape.

“We can only imagine the turmoil this young girl felt, first at being assaulted so terribly and then, after her attacker fled the charges, knowing he was still out there for more than a decade,” Conley said. “But she survived those years with the help and love of her family. Today, she’s a strong and successful woman who took the stand and helped us put a dangerous rapist behind bars.”

Rebecca Harris was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Panameno was represented by attorney Jack Courtney.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.