St. Paul man gets over 3 years for raping step daughter
A plea deal with prosecutors dismissed two felony charges in exchange for a guilty plea to felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct
*Disclaimer: Criminal complaints are based off law enforcement’s and prosecutor's interpretation of what a defendant did. They should not be considered factual by the public. All those charged with crimes are innocent until proven in a court of law. Any accusation in the below story comes from court documents unless expressly noted.*
ST. PAUL – A St. Paul man was sentenced to 41-months in prison during a Monday court hearing in Ramsey County District Court for raping his 17-year-old step-daughter in a field in the summer of 2025.
Zaqueo Gamaliel Mateo Vail, 49, pleaded guilty earlier this year to felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving the penetration of a child under 18 while impaired, incapacitated or helpless, per a plea agreement with Ramsey County prosecutors.
Felony charges including first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving the penetration of a mentally impaired or physically helpless person and third-degree criminal sexual conduct using coercion to penetrate a child under 18, were dismissed.
During Monday's sentencing hearing, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Somah Yarney said she was disappointed in Mateo Vail's answers in a pre-sentence investigation, which tried to shift blame to his step-daughter for the assault.
Court documents say the girl has a diagnosed learning disability and was with her step-dad while he worked at his job installing cable systems in homes when the assault occurred.
The girl reported that Mateo Vail took her to an isolated field and raped her, afterwards telling the girl not to tell anyone because it would hurt her mother.
"Your blaming of the victim is reprehensible and not credible," District Judge DeAnne Hilgers told Mateo Vail during Monday's hearing.
Mateo Vail, dressed in an orange Ramsey County jail jumpsuit, declined to speak in court.
In addition to his prison sentence, Mateo Vail is required to register as a predatory offender and will serve 10 years on supervised probation after he is released.
He was credited with 110 days for time served.
***For help following a sexual assault, please visit the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault to find advocacy and medical services.***
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