Man will be deported after serving sentence for Meridian rape
An Ada County judge sentenced a man to prison this month after he pleaded guilty to rape.
Meridian resident Erik Carrasco Benitez, 26, was arrested after a woman waved down police officers on July 5 to report that she had just been assaulted, according to the Meridian Police Department.
Prosecuting attorney John Dinger said the victim was too intoxicated to consent, though Carrasco Benitez disputes the victim’s account of the violent nature of the crime.
“At the end of the day, he did admit to rape by intoxication,” Dinger said at the sentencing. “... He realized it was something he shouldn’t have done.”
Carrasco Benitez’s sentencing on April 13 in a Boise courtroom was relatively quick and uncomplicated, with Fourth District Judge Patrick Miller agreeing to follow the plea deal reached by both parties.
Miller sentenced Carrasco Benitez to eight years in prison, with the possibility of parole after four years. He also ordered Carrasco Benitez to pay $4,237 in restitution.
Carrasco Benitez, who is a Mexican citizen, agreed to be deported after serving his sentence, according to the prosecution.
“I accept my mistake and will accept what your honor will decide,” Carrasco Benitez said through an interpreter.
The woman involved was too “terrified” to testify at the sentencing but “strongly supports” the plea agreement, Dinger said.
Law enforcement arrested Carrasco Benitez, who had not been known to the victim, after nearly a monthlong investigation last year.
“Detectives worked diligently to identify the individual responsible,” Jordan Robinson, Meridian Police Department spokesperson, previously told the Idaho Statesman. “This included conducting interviews, collecting evidence and following up on multiple leads to confirm the suspect’s identity.”
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 4:08 PM.
