A 51-year-old man has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison for sexually abusing a child from 2009 to 2011 while he was babysitting in her family's Valley Cottage home.
, formerly of 29 Kings Highway, Valley Cottage, pleaded guilty to first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child just before he was about to go on trial in Rockland County Court in New City. In addition to his prison term, Lopez must serve 10 years in post-release supervision and he must register as a sex offender.
“In this case, the defendant was in a position of trust and authority over
the victim and chose to violate that responsibility," said Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe. "He was charged with protecting the victim, not
stealing her childhood. Today’s lengthy sentence is more than justified and will make certain a dangerous predator remains off the streets for many years.”
Lopez admitted to sexually abusing the young girl in his care on numerous occasions between 2009 and 2011. The victim, now 7-years-old, was molested in her Valley Cottage home as Lopez was babysitting. He was a friend of the family at the time.
Lopez was about to go on trial in March when he entered his guilty plea before Judge William K. Nelson. Jury selection had begun for the trial.
The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Unit Senior Assistant District Attorney Patricia Gunning.
