EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – A former Chippewa Falls man pleaded guilty to horrendously beating and raping a woman he met on the Facebook social media site. Fernando Mendoza, 29, now living in Rockford, Illinois, was charged with third-degree sexual assault and aggravated battery. After he pleaded guilty, Judge Emily Long ordered a pre-sentence investigation. According to the criminal complaint, police were summoned to an Eau Claire hospital on December 16. The woman’s left eye swollen and bruised. There was dried blood on her cheek and forehead, bruising on her cheekm and more dried blood on her nose and lips. There was a fresh gash on her hand. The criminal complaint is graphic: The woman said Mendoza had come to her rplace for the first time at 9:30 a.m. They talked for a while about troubles in his life and life in general. After a while, Mendoza put his hand on her thigh. She told him not to do that. She also told him no when he suggested copulation. Mendoza then pushed back on the couch. He fell onto a table when she started punching him. He hen ripped off her pants and began hitting her face and stomach with his fists. Mendoza threw her off the couch, removed her other clothing and penetrated.
Mendoza. Faces 20 years in prison.