A disturbing case has come to light on Long Island, where a once-deported Guatemalan stepfather with an ICE detainer has been found guilty of committing years of horrific sexual abuse against his 6-year-old stepdaughter. The identity of the 40-year-old perpetrator is being withheld to protect the victim’s privacy.
The abuse took place in their home in Riverhead, where the stepfather would wait for the girl’s mother to leave for work at 3:30 a.m. before assaulting the young child. The mother worked the early morning shift at a deli six days a week, leaving the stepfather alone with the victim during these vulnerable hours.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, the stepfather would carry the girl to his bed each morning and subject her to around two hours of abuse before leaving for work at 5:30 a.m. This pattern of abuse began in 2014 when the victim, only 6 years old at the time, moved in with her mother and stepfather.
The abuse continued for five years, with the victim unaware of the severity of the situation due to her young age. It wasn’t until a school social worker gave a presentation on good and bad touching when the victim was in fourth grade that she began to understand the abuse she was enduring.
Despite the victim’s attempts to stop the abuse and voice her discomfort, the stepfather continued to threaten her, instilling fear and preventing her from speaking out. The victim was also afraid that disclosing the abuse would tear her family apart.
In 2019, the victim finally confided in her mother about the abuse, and together they reported the incident to the Southampton Town Police Department. The stepfather was arrested shortly after.
The perpetrator, who had previously been deported from the US in 2006, now faces up to 25 years in prison for his heinous crimes. Following his sentence, he will be returned to ICE custody.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney commended the victim for her bravery in coming forward and seeking justice. The traumatic experience has undoubtedly impacted the victim’s life and well-being, but with the support of her family and law enforcement, she is on the path to healing and closure.
The sentencing for the stepfather is scheduled for February 4, where he will face the consequences of his actions. The victim’s courage in speaking out has paved the way for accountability and justice in this heartbreaking case.
