ABBEVILLE, S.C. — An Abbeville man pleaded guilty Tuesday to raping and impregnating a girl when she was 9 years old. In January 2006, William Edward Ronca, who was 26 at the time, pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Ronca was arrested after the girl was found to be seven to eight months pregnant. A school guidance counselor told the girl’s mother that the child was acting withdrawn and was not participating at school. The girl was taken to Abbeville County Memorial Hospital, where the pregnancy was confirmed.
Arrest warrants said that Ronca had been having sex with the girl for more than a year, and told her not to tell anyone.
At the time of the arrest, the mother told a newspaper that she did not know her daughter was pregnant.Â
In emotional testimony, the girl’s biological father said instead of enjoying her childhood, his 10-year-old daughter had to undergo a Caesarean section delivery.