Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the sentencing of Lazaro Alberto Huertasperez, a 30-year-old Guatemalan national, to 17 years in prison for the rape of a 14-year-old girl. In a plea deal reached last November, Huertasperez admitted to the sexual abuse after giving the victim a substance-laced glass of water that incapacitated her. "No child should ever go through the trauma that the 14-year-old victim in this case went through," Tierney said, as reported by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
During the summer of 2021, while waiting for a ride to the laundromat, the young victim was offered the drugged water by Huertasperez, who then sexually assaulted her after she became unable to resist. Carrying her to his room, the victim partially lost consciousness and was later found in his bed in pain. Nine months subsequent to the assault, she gave birth to Huertasperez's child, whose paternity was confirmed through testing.
After learning of the birth in April 2022, Huertasperez fled to Guatemala, escaping law enforcement's reach. However, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and in October 2024, Huertasperez was apprehended by United States Customs and Border Patrol as he attempted to re-enter the country illegally, and was duly returned to Suffolk County to face charges. Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis accepted his guilty plea to multiple charges last month.
Yesterday, Huertasperez received a 17-year prison sentence, represented by Chase Brown, Esq. Also lodged against him is a detainer by the United States Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure deportation following his prison term. Amidst where the investigation was conducted by Detective Roman Wilinski of the Southold Police Department, with the Suffolk County Police Department's Fugitive Unit lending assistance, the prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorney Katherine Flinchum.
