A New Rochelle man has admitted to a slate of sex-abuse and evidence-tampering charges connected to the case of a 15-year-old boy whose body was discovered on a city sidewalk earlier this year. Prosecutors say 32-year-old Hugo Perez-Gabriel pleaded guilty in Westchester County Court to performing a sex act on the teenager and coercing him to pose naked for a video in the days before the boy was found.
The Journal News first reported the plea, and the details were later summarized by the New York Post. According to that reporting, Perez-Gabriel admitted forcing the teen to pose naked and soliciting or recording explicit material in the days leading up to the boy’s death. Prosecutors say he pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sex act, use of a minor in a sexual performance and tampering with physical evidence.
Police first arrested Perez-Gabriel in February after 15-year-old Jonson Temaj was found unresponsive near Charles Street and Washington Avenue. Authorities said Perez-Gabriel and a 16-year-old removed Temaj from a nearby residence and left him on the sidewalk. Early coverage of the discovery and the arrests was reported by CBS New York, which noted that investigators were still trying to determine how the teen died.
Prosecutors' account
According to the summarized court statements, prosecutors told the judge that the sexual contact happened months before Temaj’s body was discovered. They said Perez-Gabriel coerced the teen into sending or appearing in explicit material and tied their charges to that alleged sexual abuse and to tampering with physical evidence.
Prosecutors have not charged Perez-Gabriel in connection with Temaj’s death, according to reporting summarized by the New York Post. For now, the case against him centers on the sex-crime counts and the allegation that he helped move the teen’s body.
Sentencing and next steps
Westchester County Judge Robert Prisco said Perez-Gabriel is expected to receive consecutive state prison terms totaling between nine and 19 years, according to the reporting. Sentencing has not yet taken place, and prosecutors say the broader case remains under review as they weigh what additional steps, if any, to pursue.
Family and community reaction
Temaj’s relatives have described him as a bright teenager with big plans and have pressed authorities for clearer answers about how he died, family members told local television. Coverage by News 12 Westchester highlighted the family’s public plea for anyone with information about what happened to come forward, a call that has resonated across the New Rochelle community.
