Rape Suspect Sentenced to 12 Years After Sexually Assaulting 6-Year-Old Girl in Long Island

Jose Romero was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a 6-year-old girl in 2021. Reports say the rape suspect even bribed the victim with pocket change to keep her quiet about the incident.

On May 12, Jose Romero, 34, from Centereach, New York, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 10 years of post-release supervision. This was after April 12, when the rape suspect pleaded guilty to raping a 6-year-old girl in October 2021.

According to Wehner, Attorney Raymond A. Tierney of Suffolk County District states that as part of a guilty plea, Romero admitted to first-degree rape before Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis. In addition, the rape suspect was also required to register as a sex offender.

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Rape Suspect Put to Prison

According to Mashburn, following the crime, the rape suspect even bribed the 6-year-old girl with some loose change from his pocket to keep her from saying anything to her parents about what he did. Fortunately, the girl immediately told her parents about the sexual assault and in turn, the victim’s parents contacted the authorities.

Thereafter, the 6-year-old girl was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital on the North Shore of Long Island, New York. From there, a nurse recovered DNA evidence that associated the rape suspect with the sexual assault.

Tierney points out the difficulty of calling out an abuser at such a young age. However, because of the bravery of the 6-year-old victim, the rape suspect will be put to prison where he cannot harm any other children anymore.

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