U.S. man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting Edmonton girl

Warning: This article contains details readers may find disturbing.

A U.S. man on Monday pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting an Edmonton girl and smuggling her across the border in 2022.

Noah Madrano pleaded guilty to two of six federal charges in a Portland, Ore., courtroom, court documents show: sexual exploitation of a child and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

The first charge has a sentence of 15 to 30 years and the second charge comes with a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. 

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"It's definitely a level of relief for us," said the father of the victim, who can't be identified to protect the identity of the victim, via phone from Portland.

"It's been two, two and a half years, where we've been trying to get him to take a plea so we're finally relieved that we don't have to face a trial with our daughter. Because we weren't looking forward to that at all. Obviously, that would be very difficult for her to have to go through a five-day trial and relive the entire ordeal."

The 13-year-old girl was reported missing in Edmonton in late June of 2022 and was found in an Oregon hotel room nine days later.

The trial was delayed a number of times before Madrano signed a plea deal last December.

"I feel pleased that Madrano finally had proper advisement from the appointed defence attorney that he received last year, and he's finally taking responsibility for what would be like a litany of crimes that he subjected our daughter to," the mother said. "We are glad that she doesn't have to take the stand, because that is something that we were anxious about."

She said her daughter is doing "really well, all things considered."

"She's very resilient. She's very strong, and she's continued in her therapy and her healing process, and she is involved in lots of extracurricular activities.

"Our family is strong together … We're not going to have this situation define us and we're still going to continue to live."

Sentencing is scheduled for April 8.