NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — 41-year-old Jose Antonio Canas-Olivares was sentenced in Norfolk on Friday to serve 20 years in prison for three counts of raping a child over a three-year period.

Canas-Olivares pleaded guilty on Feb. 29 to three counts of raping a child under age 13 with a maximum sentence of 20 years to serve. Judge Mary Jane Hall originally deferred accepting the plea agreement pending her review of Canas-Olivares’ pre-sentence report and psychosexual evaluation.

On Friday, Hall accepted Canas-Olivares’ plea agreement and sentenced Canas-Olivares to serve 20 years in prison, suspending another 40 years on the condition that he complete five years of uniform good behavior following his release.

The victim, who was between the ages of 9 and 12 at the time of Canas-Olivares’ abuse, reported the abuse to trusted adults and Norfolk Police in early 2023.

“The rape of a child is one of the most serious and devastating crimes a person can commit,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “My thoughts are with the survivor whose bravery helped us hold Mr. Canas-Olivares accountable. Mr. Canas-Olivares’ sentence holds him accountable and protects the children of Norfolk from further harm.”

If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to child abuse, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376 or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.