By Paul Daquilante • Staff Writer • 

New charges lodged against two-time felon

Martin Mojica-Penaloza of McMinnville
Martin Mojica-Penaloza of McMinnville

Martin Mojica-Penaloza of McMinnville has been indicted by a Yamhill County grand jury on three counts each of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse, a mix of Class A and B felonies. It’s alleged Mojica committed sexual acts with the victim, who is under 14, in May 2006, June 2008, June 2009 and June 2010.

Mojica is serving his sentence on the April 2012 attack at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario. His earliest possible release date is September 2024.

He was transported to Yamhill County for arraignment Friday before Judge Cal Tichenor. He is next due back in court at 10:40 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.

In the attack, Mojica admitted stabbing his father at least 10 times. He said he lashed out at his stepmother when she tried to intervene.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree assault, a Class A felony, and second-degree assault, a Class B felony. In exchange, one count each of attempted murder, first-degree assault and interfering with making a report, in addition to two counts each of menacing and unlawful use of a weapon, were dismissed.

In addition, he received 95 days of local jail time for attacking and biting a correctional officer.

Mojica is deaf. He said he had been subjected to lifelong abuse at the hands of his father, to the point where he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I did try to hurt and kill my father,” he said at his plea and sentencing hearing. “I am sorry about that.”

This is his second prison term.

In 2005, he was convicted of two counts of attempted second-degree kidnapping and one count of harassment involving intimate touching. He didn’t receive any prison time initially, but ended up serving more than two years for violating terms of his probation.

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