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Man who sexually assaulted 18-year-old girl who was dying of drug overdose gets less than three years

A man who fed drugs to a high school student before raping her, ultimately resulting in her death from an overdose, was sentenced to less than three years in prison

As part of a plea deal in the February death of 18-year-old Alyssa Noceda, 20-year-old Brian Varela pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter, third-degree rape, and unlawful disposal of remains. According to the Daily Herald, Varela could not be sentenced for more than two years and 10 months behind bars because it was the maximum prison time permitted for someone with no prior criminal record, Superior Court Judge Linda Krese said on Thursday.

Krese told the court she has seen car theft cases with more serious penalties after admitting that she was "surprised, even outraged" by the inadequacy of the sentencing guidelines. After giving the teenager drugs and raping her in his bedroom, Varela did not call emergency services for help but instead sent semi-naked photos of her to friends as she lay dying. "I’m not sure the Legislature really contemplated something like this," Krese said.