Kidnap and rape victim shows strength as attacker sentenced

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The man who kidnapped and sexually abused a 10-year-old girl two years ago is going to prison for life.

Kalvin Cardenas tied the girl up, assaulted her, and dumped her in a remote pond. The next day, he got in a standoff with Fresno County sheriff's deputies when they caught up to him.

Cardenas coaxed the girl into his car in Northeast Fresno on the morning of Sept. 25, 2012. It was dark by the time she flagged down help out near Kerman.

We're not identifying the girl or her family, but the three voices who spoke out Wednesday belong to Kalvin Cardenas, the victim's mother, and the prosecutor reading a letter from the girl known in court as "Jane Doe."

Jane Doe's family waited two years, but they finally have closure.

"We have learned through this process we have the most brave and wise daughter," the girl's mother said to Cardenas. "She not only withstood your torture, she also was brave enough to escape your ties and get help. She then spent many hours explaining the horror you put her through with only one goal: that you would never be able to hurt anyone else ever. Her goal is officially reached today."

The girl's mother admitted they once hoped it had come a lot sooner.

"Honestly, the morning of Sept. 26, 2012, when you were in standoff, our family wanted you dead and many times in the last month, we've wished this on you," she said. "However, we see the benefit in the years you will spend thinking about your actions and dealing with your own issues."

For his part, Cardenas gave a brief apology.

"This thing that happened was not planned and I do feel remorseful to the victim and the family," he said.

And then, the girl had her chance to show her attacker how strong she's been in the face of the adversity he caused.

"Before I was rescued on that day, God talked to me and protected me," she said in a letter read by prosecutor Lisa Gamoian. "While I was tied and sitting in the water, Jesus walked up to me and said 'Have courage my child. I will protect you. I have made promises and your future will be only for you. I love you my child.' I knew after that, I had to undo those ties and get help. Since that day, I've had to work to heal. I have a normal life now and my relationships are much stronger. But best of all, I'm overjoyed that you will be in jail forever so you can sit and think about what you've done."

Cardenas can still appeal the ruling and he was making plans to do that in court Wednesday. The girl's family says she's an amazing young woman who will glorify God and use the evil thing Cardenas did to help others by ministering to those who are hurt.