Lynn man found guilty of intent to rape

SALEM – A Lynn construction worker was found guilty of assault with intent to rape Wednesday and received four years in state prison.Javier Blanco, also known as Eric Solorzano, 40, of Washington Street, Lynn, formerly of 7 Dineen Terrace, Lynn, went on trial last week on three counts of rape as well as assault with intent to rape and assault and battery stemming from incidents in Lynn in 2008.A jury of six women and six men deliberated for about 12 hours over three days, convicting Blanco of assault with intent to rape but exonerating him on the three rape charges and the single count of assault and battery.Judge David A. Lowy then sentenced Blanco to the four-year state prison term.The victim, who was age 26 when the assaults occurred, testified she had been dating Blanco for about three months when she asked him to move in with her at her Dineen Terrace, Lynn, apartment and that is when he changed, she said.She testified on dates from August through September of 2008 she was raped without her consent. Then, on Oct. 19, 2008, Blanco tried to rape her as he ripped her shirt and pulled her hair while she told him to stop.Jurors were not convinced and only found Blanco was guilty of assault with intent to rape charge.Assistant District Attorney Christina P. Ronan stated in her closing that “he (Blanco) was on her like a crazed animal,” and that she wasn?t going to put up with him any longer and called police.Defense lawyer David Grimaldi questioned the credibility of the victim, saying she was “falsely accusing Mr. Blanco to get her Visa.” The victim is from Honduras.Grimaldi insisted that she “wants to stay here” and that her claims were implausible as he told the jury “(Blanco) is innocent.”Blanco did not take the stand in his own defense.The sentence imposed was less than the seven to 10 years sought by Ronan, who told Lowy it was based on the severity of the offense.Grimaldi argued for a one-year jail term, saying his client has been here 20 years working in construction and landscaping, and that because of the conviction he will be deported back to Guatemala, as he pleaded for leniency.Blanco was indicted by a grand jury in January 2009. The judge credited him the 33 days he spent in jail in lieu of bail.