Man convicted of child rape sentenced to up to 40 years in prison

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A former substitute and Sunday school teacher learned his fate Wednesday after his sentencing in Fall River Superior Court.

Gilbert Hernandez was sentenced for charges related to the rape and molestation of a 14-year-old girl back in 2018.

Emotions ran high in Fall River Superior Court.

“The now-convicted one is not only evil, but a narcissistic total coward and sociopath who could care less about anyone but himself and his beyond sick desires,” said the father of the victim.

Gilbert Hernandez worked at Freetown-Lakeville schools and taught Sunday school at a church in Freetown.

Court records show Hernandez knew the victim, who’s name is not being released, through their close friendship with his son.

Family gave emotional testimony as they closed this chapter six years later.

“The now-convicted-one is not even human. Just like the devil in disguise, we see the now-convicted-one in the same light. As a purely evil being.”

Hernandez was convicted on five counts of rape of a child with a ten-year age difference, two counts of rape of a child by force, four counts of indecent assault and battery, and two counts of dissemination of obscene matter to a child.

His sentencing called for a minimum of 30 years, up to 40, with 10 years of parole after that.

The incidents happened over five months in 2018.

“This amount of time will hopefully keep him in prison for the rest of his pathetic life. The way he carried this out shows he is more of a veteran at this than a rookie. It was an Oscar-worthy performance, until our daughter found the strength to report him,” said the father of the victim

Hernandez has been behind bars since 2021 and that time will count towards his total sentence.

The court also set several conditions to parole, including no supervised or unsupervised contact with minors, no dating the parent of a minor, and Hernandez is not allowed to have any photos of the victim.

“We wish the law would allow him to be castrated, so he would not even be able to pleasure himself through the last years of his pathetic life. But we respect the law.”