CARMEL- A Brewster man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, 20 years of post-release supervision and criminal sex offender registration following his conviction for the violent rape and assault of a woman.
Victor Cruz Garcia, 43, was convicted of Rape in the First Degree, Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, both B Violent Felonies, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor, following a two week-long trial which ended with his conviction March 13, 2015. He was sentenced by Putnam County Supreme Court Judge James Rooney July 29, 2015.
On November 1, 2013, Cruz Garcia violently raped and sexually assaulted the survivor while her five year old son watched television in another room. When she finally broke free from the vicious attack, Cruz Garcia became enraged and threatened to harm her and her family if she contacted police.
Cruz Garcia then threw bottles of alcohol and food at a door while the survivor crouched behind it, comforting her terrified child and attempting to call 911. Kent police officers responded quickly, and are credited with immediately making the survivor feel safe enough to disclose the attack.
“What this woman and her family endured is unimaginable, and she showed immense bravery in pursuing this case despite serious threats to herself and her family. She should be commended” District Attorney Adam Levy said. “Her courage, combined with the careful and conscientious work of our law enforcement partners, enabled us to build a solid case, which convinced a jury beyond doubt. All should be thanked for their efforts.”
Levy said the aggressive and coordinated police work between the Kent Police Department, the ID Unit of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and the DA’s Investigation Squad, lead to expeditious forensic analysis by the White Plains Division of the FBI, and the DNA and Serology Department at the New York State Police Forensic Lab.
Levy commended the survivor for her courageous testimony, and thanked the advocates from the Putnam Child Advocacy Center, the Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center, and Special Victims Investigator Lourdes Gonzalez, who supported the survivor throughout the investigation, and accompanied her to trial each day. The case was successfully prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Chana Krauss.
