KINGSTON — An Ulster County jury convicted a New Paltz man of sexually abusing a woman when he attacked her in her vehicle, the Ulster County District Attorney’s office reported.
According to the district attorney’s office, Alixandro Peraza Varela, 45, of New Paltz, was found guilty of first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor, on July 19.
The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for one day, following a five-day trial before Ulster County Court Judge Bryan Rounds.
The district attorney’s office said the victim was a house cleaner, and when her vehicle got stuck in the mud on Feb. 24, 2023, she called Peraza Varela, a family friend, for help.
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Once they were able to dislodge her vehicle, the district attorney’s office said the defendant refused the victim’s offer to pay him, and instead suggested she could pay him in another way.
After the victim entered her vehicle to leave, Peraza Varela forcibly thrust his fist into her vagina and began grabbing her vagina with his hand, while licking his lips and restraining her from leaving.
Immediately after the assault, the victim called her husband and reported the attack to him. Her husband consoled her and took her to a local hospital, where she received medical attention for her injuries.
Peraza Varela was arrested following an investigation by state police.
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Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 4. The sexual abuse conviction requires that Peraza Varela be registered as a sex offender. His prison sentence must be between a minimum of two years and a maximum of seven years in state prison, the district attorney’s office said.
“I hope this result sends a message regarding our commitment to all victims of sexual violence: we will do the work to hold abusers accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Assistant District Attorney Luba Reznikova said in a statement.
Alixandro Peraza Varela was represented by the Ulster County Office of the Public Defender. A representative of that office could not immediately be reached for comment.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.