HARRISBURG, PA — A Luzerne County jury has convicted a Hazleton man of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old child, a case that came to light only after a classmate bravely reported the abuse to a teacher, authorities announced Thursday.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said Elias Dominguez, 36, was found guilty of rape of a child, corruption of minors, and two counts of indecent assault following a three-day trial. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2.
“This defendant betrayed the trust of his victim, and this verdict makes it clear that if you abuse a child in Pennsylvania, you will be held accountable,” Sunday said. “This case was made possible when a brave student did the right thing and informed a teacher of the abuse of their classmate—and of course, by the strength of the victim. Protecting Pennsylvania’s children is the solemn duty of all of us.”
Prosecutors said the assault occurred in 2019, when Dominguez was dating the victim’s mother. The child first confided in a classmate, who reported it to a teacher. That teacher alerted Childline, Pennsylvania’s child-abuse reporting hotline. The victim initially gave a partial statement but made a full disclosure two years later when ready to discuss the extent of the abuse.
The case was referred to the Office of Attorney General by the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jaime Keating.
Officials praised the courage of the victim and the classmate who exposed the abuse, calling the case a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and mandatory reporting in protecting vulnerable children.
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