Hammond man gets 80 years for child molesting

A Hammond man got 80 years Friday for two counts of child molesting.

A jury convicted Andres “Andy” Guerra, 48, last month. He said he is innocent and would appeal.

Authorities alleged he first started fondling a preteen girl around 2013. Later, the victim alleged that Guerra’s ex-girlfriend Stephanie Alvarado joined in the sexual abuse, which stopped in October 2015.

His current wife Mellissa Guerra, a Hammond school board member, said she hoped one day he would be “exonerated.” She married him and had a daughter, believing the accusations were false.

“I know he is innocent,” she said, while tearful on the stand.

She would work to clear “his name, no matter how long it takes.”

Her friend, Michaela Spangenburg, a psychologist, told Judge Gina Jones that Andres was “genuine,” “safe” and a “protective father.”

Deputy Prosecutor Michael Stewart said the case — going through the court system for nearly a decade — had been a “long time coming.” The victim recently told him she was “numb” and “empty.” She alleged the repeated abuse, for a time, became her “new normal.”

He asked for 80 years.

Defense lawyer John Cantrell unsuccessfully tried to pick apart some legal technicalities that would add to a longer prison sentence.

Indiana lawmakers changed prison sentencing guidelines in July 2014. For Guerra, that meant his charges were split between two blocks, instead of one charge, Cantrell argued.

He also argued it was “ambiguous” if the victim was under 12 at the time the abuse started, because she couldn’t give exact dates. If she were under 12, that meant Guerra would be a “credit-restricted” felon – meaning he got less credit time in prison.

Cantrell asked for 20 years.

Judge Gina Jones ultimately rejected both of his arguments. She said the two charges also had slightly different requirements.

“I love my kids, all of them,” Guerra told Jones. “I understand the justice system. I just hope you take mercy on that. I just hope you do, your honor.”

Jones told lawyers she would sentence him on both counts. Guerra would be a “credit-restricted felon” in the pre-2014 child molesting charge only.

“The jury found you guilty,” she told Guerra.

Alvarado had a mistrial. Her new trial is scheduled for March 2.

mcolias@post-trib.com