By Patrick Baron
PONTIAC – A Pontiac man has been sentenced to 120 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of predatory sexual assault of a child.
In May, a Livingston County jury returned three guilty verdicts of predatory criminal sexual assault to Eloy Muraida, 45. Muraida had been perpetuating sexual acts on a minor under the age of 13 between 2010 and 2014. Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak said state statute requires 85 percent of Muraida’s 120 year sentence be mandatory to serve.
The jury deliberated for an hour and a half before the verdict was reached. Muraida had previously been charged with aggravated criminal sex abuse of a victim aged 13-16 in 1993. He was convicted of that crime the following year.
Yedinak said when Muraida was released, he had a chance to change, but ultimately he didn’t. He said that played a role in how long Muraida must now serve for his most recent conviction.
“The sentence we sought will ensure that he will never again see the outside of a prison and that no other children will suffer at his hands,” Yedinak explained.
Yedinak also commended Muraida’s accuser for her bravery in telling her story to the jury, 12 complete strangers to her.
Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].
