NASHUA – After spending about 12 years in the New Hampshire State Prison after his conviction on five aggravated felonious sexual assault charges, the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel became a lot brighter this week for Juan Carlos Marquez.

This is the result of Judge Charles Temple’s order suspending the remaining time on Marquez’s sentence. Citing his lack of serious rule violations and willingness to participate in, and complete, various prison programs, Temple granted Marquez’s petition.

This means Marquez can begin transitioning into the parole process roughly two and a half years before reaching his minimum release date of June 2, 2021.

Marquez, now in his 40s, was arrested in 2006 and charged with sexually assaulting a young girl, who was known to him, during a period of time. He was later convicted and sentenced to 10 to 20 years in State Prison, stand committed, on one of the charges, and five to 10 years, stand committed, on another charge, with the terms to be served consecutively.

He received a sentence of 10 to 20 years, all suspended, on the other three charges.

Upon hitting the 10-year minimum on the first charge, Marquez began serving the five-to-10-year sentence, and had served about half of the minimum before petitioning for the suspension of the remainder.

The victim, now 21, and her mother attended Marquez’s hearing. During her brief statement to the court, the mother said the two came to support Marquez and asked Temple to grant his petition.

Marquez, represented by attorney Amanda Steenhuis, also addressed the court, telling Temple he “took responsibility” some time ago for his actions and decided early on he would enroll in programs, one of which was a sex-offender program, to better himself.

“I want to leave all that behind me,” he told Temple, referring to prison life. “I want to move on.”

Temple, while acknowledging Marquez’s prison record shows a number of violations, said he has only had one minor infraction in the past two years. That, and the input from the victim and her mother, convinced Temple to grant Marquez’s petition.

“I think we’re at a point now … that’s it’s time to grant your request,” Temple said. A standing order prohibiting Marquez from having any contact with the victim would be amended, the judge added.

Assistant County Attorney Lisa Drescher said during the hearing the state objects to Marquez’s petition, and also to lifting the no-contact order.

She cited, in-part, the June 2017 ruling by now-retired Superior Court Judge Philip Mangones, in which he denied the first petition Marquez filed for sentence suspension.

“The court cannot ignore the defendant’s (prison violation) record (nor) the gravity of the underlying offenses,” Mangones wrote at the time.

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