QUINCY — A Quincy man will be spending nine months in jail for inappropriately touching a young girl.

Miguel Barajas Rivera, 47, of Quincy, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to third-degree child molestation. Following a joint recommendation between Chief Deputy Prosecutor Alan White and defense attorney Robert Kenter, Grant County Superior Court Judge David Estudillo sentenced Barajas Rivera to nine months in jail.

On April 13, the Quincy Police Department received a referral from Child Protective Services about possible sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old girl and Barajas Rivera. The CPS referral stated the victim disclosed to her teacher that Barajas Rivera had started inappropriately touching her when she was around 12 or 13, according to court documents.

In her interview with police, the victim said the last time Barajas Rivera touched her she was 14. The victim said Barajas Rivera later got on his knees and begged her for forgiveness. A woman told police Barajas Rivera had admitted to her that he inappropriately touched the victim.

Barajas Rivera told police if he touched the girl it was by accident. When confronted about getting on his knees to ask the victim for forgiveness, Barajas Rivera stated he, “begged for forgiveness to keep (the victim) around and stated if she believed it happened then he wanted to ask for forgiveness,” according to court documents.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.