Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced that Yonkers resident Virgilio Cruz, 48, was sentenced on Oct. 25, 2022, to the maximum 50 years in state prison—two consecutive 25-year sentences—following his September conviction for repeated sexual conduct with a child and rape.
“Today, this defendant was held to account for horrific crimes committed against a vulnerable child,” DA Rocah said. “We hope the victim, who was extraordinarily brave and testified in court, can begin their journey to healing and feeling safe. My Office and I remain committed to bringing sexual predators to justice and protecting victims from sexual violence.”
Starting in 2019, when the victim was 11-years-old, and continuing into 2021, the defendant subjected the child victim to sexual intercourse repeatedly, in some cases while the victim was asleep. During a separate incident, when the victim was 14-years-old, the defendant engaged in a struggle with the victim, and pinned down and raped the victim. The victim then reported the rape and history of sexual conduct to a parent. When confronted by the victim’s parent regarding his actions, the defendant attempted to stab himself with a kitchen knife and the police were called.
The Yonkers Police Department arrested the defendant on Sept. 23, 2021.
After a weeklong trial, a jury found the defendant guilty on Sept.16, 2022, of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, Rape in the First Degree, and Rape in the Second Degree, all violent felonies. In accordance with his sentence, the defendant will also be subject to 20 years of post-release supervision and will be required to register as a sex offender after completing his prison sentence.
In a statement made to the court, the victim explained the impact of the defendant’s actions: “You ruined my childhood… I felt horrible for so long… I didn’t want to be around people. I was numb…. I never knew what you would do next or what more you were capable of… The two emotions I felt constantly were fear and sadness. You had no right to do what you did to me. After today, I won’t ever think of you again… After today, you are nothing to me.”
The case was before Judge Susan Cacace in Westchester County Court, and was prosecuted by Child Abuse Bureau Chief Christine Hatfield and Assistant District Attorney Charlotte Gudis, both of the Special Prosecutions Division.
