A 23-year-old Durango man was sentenced Friday to 90 days in jail, six years probation and a lifetime of sexual offender registration for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
It was the maximum allowed under a plea agreement signed by Miles Nakai, who broke down crying upon receiving District Judge Todd Norvell’s sentence.
Police and prosecutors said Nakai befriended the girl, gave her alcohol, flirted with her via text messages, and had sexual intercourse with her on at least one occasion. The sexual activity occurred in late summer and fall of 2016.
The mother of the victim said her daughter used to be enrolled in advanced classes for math, science and language arts but flunked those classes last semester. Her daughter has been “horribly and irrevocably” affected by the assaults, she said.
The girl agreed to the plea agreement to avoid having to endure a trial, the mother said. She asked Judge Norvell to impose 90 days jail as a small showing of justice.
“This has been a hell that I would not wish on my worst enemy,” she said.
Nakai apologized for his actions.
Several family members spoke on his behalf, including his father, mother and little sister.
They said Nakai knows his actions were wrong and is making strides to correct his life.
His public defense lawyer, Justin Bogan, said Nakai shouldn’t be defined by his darkest moment. As a whole, he has lived a positive and productive life, Bogan said. He has good support from family and friends, which is crucial for keeping him on a successful path.
Bogan said jail time will only prolong getting Nakai enrolled in sexual offender treatment.
But Judge Norvell said anything less than jail sends the wrong message.
“When you have a case as serious as this, not imposing jail, in my opinion, severely undermines the significance,” he said.
Nakai did a “really horrible thing,” Norvell said, but he has performed well on bail and has the potential to turn his life around.
shane@durangoherald.com
