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Rapist sentenced to 65 years to life

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A Huntington Beach man was given 65 years to life in prison Friday for kidnapping and raping a developmentally disabled 7-year-old girl, authorities said.

Daniel Vlas Flores, 30, was found guilty in April of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense and sexual intercourse, sodomy, and sexual penetration of a child 10 years old or younger, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Flores first contacted the girl while she played with her 8-year-old neighbor and friend on Aug. 19, 2009, in the yard of an apartment complex in the 7800 block of Sycamore Avenue.

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He wanted her to help him move furniture in his apartment. The girl refused, but he forced her to walk to his apartment, prosecutors said.

Flores then raped, sodomized and digitally penetrated her.

The friend walked up to Flores’ apartment when the girl didn’t return. She was able to open a sliding door, allowing the girl to escape, prosecutors said.

The girl later told her mother, and Flores was arrested the same day by the Huntington Beach Police Department.

The girl’s father was present during Flores’ sentencing and said his daughter is still in therapy trying to recover from the brutal crime, according to a release from the district attorney’s office. He said his family has since left the state, the place from which his daughter was victimized.

The friend who helped the girl escape was referred to as a “true hero” by Judge Lance Jensen, who sentenced Flores to prison, the release said.

mona.shadia@latimes.com

Twitter: @MonaShadia

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