48-Year-Old Faces 9-Year Sentence For Sex With Child: DA

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A Monticello resident pleaded guilty Tuesday, admitting that he committed sex acts with a person younger than 13 roughly 13 years ago, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced.

Anthony Villegas, 48, received a plea deal in Orange County Court in which the court agreed to cap his sentence exposure to nine years in prison to be followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, the DA said. Prosecutors had recommended 10 years in prison. As part of the sentence, Villegas will also be registered as a sex offender under the New York Sex Offender Registration Act.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, prosecutors said.

Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Villegas pled guilty, at the plea proceedings, Villegas admitted that between June 2010 and April 2011, being 18 years old or more, over a period of time not less than three months in duration, he did engage in two or more acts of sexual conduct which included at least one act of sexual intercourse with an individual who was less than 13 years old.

Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for the investigation which led to Villegas' arrest.

“Children are our most innocent and vulnerable victims,” he said. “Adults who choose to violate children for their own sexual gratification deserve lengthy prison sentences. These cases are challenging for the victims and for the law enforcement officers tasked with investigating the crimes. I reiterate our commitment to supporting victims of sexual assault and will continue to pursue accountability for these dangerous offenders.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Purcell.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7.