East Haven Man Gets 15 Years In Prison For Sexually Assaulting Minors

NEW HAVEN, CT — Lawrence Maenza, 45, of East Haven was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for two counts of rape and two counts of risk of injury to a minor, New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. announced.

Maenza was sentenced after a Superior Court jury found him guilty in February, Doyle said. After release from prison, Maenza will be required to register as a sex offender for life and complete sex offender probation for an additional 15 years, the State's Attorney noted.

According to Doyle and court records, evidence at trial showed Maenza sexually assaulted two children under the age of 10 in locations across New Haven and Hartford counties. The two cases were joined for a consolidated trial in New Haven Superior Court, he added.

“We thank the young victims in this case for having the courage to come forward and tell their story,” Doyle was quoted as saying in a news release.

The cases were investigated by the Branford and Wethersfield police departments. Doyle said he's "grateful to the Department of Children and Families and the Yale Child Abuse Clinic for their assistance."

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Gregory L. Borrelli, with assistance from Inspector Alfonso Vazquez.