Justice served? Alabama DA questions pending release of admitted violent rapist from prison

Published 3:08 pm Wednesday, February 7, 2024

An Alabama district attorney expressed his frustrations Tuesday that a man who admitted to the brutal rape of a woman will soon be released from prison due to a light sentence.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said in a written statement posted on social media that he was disappointed that a man who brutally assaulted a Montgomery woman in 2020 at an apartment complex off Vaughn Road was only sentenced to 3 years in prison and is due to be released soon despite the extremely vicious nature of his attack.

Hector Abraham Hernandez, who was charged with Rape I, Sodomy I and Sexual Abuse I, pled guilty this week to the August 9, 2020, assault.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office requested that Hernandez be sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Instead, Hernandez was sentenced by Judge Greg Griffin to 20 years suspended with only three years to serve behind bars. Because Hernandez was never released on bond and has been incarcerated in the Montgomery County Detention Facility since his arrest, his sentence amounts to time served and he is due to be released soon.

“Violent sexual predators such as Hector Hernandez should not be allowed to walk free as if they had been convicted of stealing a bicycle,” District Attorney Bailey said. “This victim will forever be tormented by the violent actions of this man and now he will be released back into society with the opportunity to repeat his violent crimes. I respect the Judge’s ability to make this decision, but I disagree with the punishment. Mr. Hernandez needs to be and deserves to be behind bars.”