Holyoke Man Hit With 5 to 7 Years For Westfield Rape After Ride Home

A judge on Wednesday sentenced Holyoke resident Alexander Theroux, 36, to five to seven years in state prison after his conviction on multiple sexual assault charges stemming from an attack in Westfield. Theroux was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault and battery. Prosecutors said the assault happened on July 8, 2023, after Theroux agreed to drive the victim home. The judge also ordered three years of probation to follow his prison term.

How The Sentence Was Shaped

In a Facebook post, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said the prosecution presented forensic evidence from a sexual assault nurse examination at trial and asked the court to hand down a 12 to 14 year state prison sentence, followed by three years of probation. The post noted that Assistant District Attorney Catherine Joyce prosecuted the case, with victim witness advocate Shavon Ennis supporting the victim throughout the proceedings.

Inside The Courtroom Timeline

The case moved through Hampden Superior Court in Springfield under docket number 2479CR00076, according to the Trial Court. Entries on the daily list show the matter scheduled for activity in mid May, including pre trial conferences and a jury waived session in CR Session 5 at the Springfield courthouse, before the case advanced into trial activity.

Victim’s Account And Forensic Backing

According to the DA’s Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni post, the victim testified that Theroux sexually assaulted her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. In the statement, Gulluni wrote that “the victim sought help from people she believed would ensure her safety and instead was exploited while in an extremely vulnerable condition.” Prosecutors said forensic testing supported the victim’s description of what happened.

What Comes Next Legally

Massachusetts law says rape and indecent assault convictions typically come with long term fallout, including possible registration with the state’s Sex Offender Registry Board and ongoing reporting rules, state guidance notes, per the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board. Any classification and reporting requirements for Theroux will be decided after sentencing. The district attorney’s Facebook post did not indicate what SORB level he might face or when any registration decision will be made.