No contest in sex assault case

A 23-year-old man charged in connection with the sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy pleaded no contest to a lesser charge Monday.

Claudio A. Gonzalez, who is a missionary from Chile, was found guilty of third-degree sexual assault of an incompetent person, a misdemeanor. He originally was charged with forcible first-degree sexual assault, a felony.

Gonzalez entered his plea in Sarpy County Court.

With the misdemeanor, Gonzalez faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

Gonzalez was arrested Aug. 9 at an Atlanta airport. According to authorities, Gonzalez fled for his native Chile after assaulting the 16-year-old boy Aug. 8 at a bachelor party at the Embassy Suites Hotel in La Vista.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Gonzalez wasn't expected to return to Chile until spring 2010.

The boy said he had a few drinks and passed out in the same bed as Gonzalez, who was a friend of the boy's family, according to the affidavit. The boy said he awoke to Gonzalez performing oral sex on him.

The boy told his family about the incident, and his family confronted Gonzalez. Gonzalez reportedly then left for Chile by way of Atlanta.

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444-1336, leia.baez@owh.com