A 43-year-old Lorain woman is headed to prison for her role in the sexual assaults of two teenage girls.
Flordelis Acosta, of Washington Avenue, was sentenced to 15 years to 17 years and six months behind bars for three counts of complicity to rape, which are first-degree felonies; and two counts of endangering children, both first-degree misdemeanors, according to a news release from Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson.
Acosta pleaded guilty to the crimes.
Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Melissa Kobasher presided over the sentencing and designated Acosta a Tier III sex offender, the highest classification in Ohio’s sex offender registration laws.
When Acosta is released from prison, she must register her address with the local sheriff’s office every 90 days for the rest of her life as part of the classification.
In February 2020, Acosta admitted she procured the girls and allowed her boyfriend and co-defendant, Jose Colon, 28, of Lorain, to rape and abuse them, the release stated.
“Flordelis Acosta victimized vulnerable children and is a danger to the community,” Tomlinson said. “She and her co-defendant, Jose Colon, fully deserve the sentences that they received.
“I hope that the conclusion of these criminal cases allows the survivors of these heinous crimes to continue their healing.”
Colon pleaded guilty to a variety of offenses, including rape, and is serving 15 years to 17 years and six months in prison, according Lorain County Jail records and the release.
Assistant Prosecutors Tina Kishman and Matt Kern prosecuted the cases against Acosta and Colon.
During the handling of the cases, the Prosecutor’s Office’s “highly-trained facility dog, Drake, sat with the survivors to provide them with emotional support as they navigated the criminal process,” the release stated.
“I want to thank my assistant prosecutors, our office’s victim advocates and the Lorain Police Department for all of their diligent work in bringing Acosta and Colon to justice,” Tomlinson said.
Acosta is the 104th sex offender prosecuted by the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office since 2021, the release stated.
“Tomlinson has made holding sex offenders accountable an enforcement priority and the number of defendants ordered to register as sex offenders has increased 26% since 2021,” the release stated.
