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Ricardo Vilorio-Hernandez, 56, of Tampa, was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in prison on Tuesday, Feb. 18, by Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle, who called his crimes “horrible” and said he “deserves a long sentence.” The judge also classified him as a sexually violent predator.
A jury convicted Vilorio-Hernandez on Oct. 17, 2024, of 13 charges, including rape of a child, forcible rape, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, and aggravated indecent assault of a child, following a two-day trial.
“You hurt me,” the now-30-year-old victim said in court before sentencing. “The fact that you almost got away with what you did to me makes me sick to my stomach.”
Prosecutors said Vilorio-Hernandez began abusing the victim when she was about 9 years old in 2004, assaulting her up to three times a week at homes on West Strawberry Street in Lancaster and Fruitville Pike in Manheim Township. The abuse lasted until she was 14.
During the trial, the victim testified that Vilorio-Hernandez would threaten to harm her mother and brothers if she told anyone. She described being left alone, crying and bleeding for hours after one assault. Out of fear, she barricaded her bedroom door with a dresser and later armed herself with a knife when he tried to re-enter her life.
Vilorio-Hernandez followed through on his threats, badly beating the victim’s brother after she refused him sex at 14, authorities said. He then moved out of state.
Lancaster City Bureau of Police Detective Jessica Higgins led the investigation. Vilorio-Hernandez was arrested in Tampa in February 2023.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo, who prosecuted the case, called his actions “horrific” and said that while “no sentence is fair enough,” this one ensures he can never harm another child again.
Psychologist Dr. Robert Stein testified that Vilorio-Hernandez created a “climate of fear” and engaged in “unusual cruelty” toward the victim.
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