Fugitive Extradited Here From Mexico On Child Rape Charges Admits Guilt: DA

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Justice was a long time coming, but a violent sex offender will pay for his crimes after more than a decade on the run.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced on Tuesday that a fugitive from justice who absconded to Mexico after raping a young girl almost two decades ago has admitted to his criminal conduct.

Galo Herrera, 53, pleaded guilty on Monday to felony first-degree rape.

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"The defendant's cowardly scheme to evade accountability, nearly 20 years in the making, could not outrun the long arm of the justice system," DA Cacace said. "In the intervening years, this office never ceased working to secure his return to the United States. I am hopeful this guilty plea will provide the victim with the closure she has long deserved."

Between December 2006 and January 2007, Herrera forcibly raped a young girl who was under the age of 13 years old at the time. He then fled the jurisdiction before he could be arrested on the charges.

In 2008, Herrera was indicted on one felony count of predatory sexual assault against a child, two felony counts of first-degree rape, and three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

He was extradited to Westchester earlier this year.

This case was investigated by the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Westchester DA's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Westchester County Department of Labs and Research and the New York State Police Crime Lab assisted during the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant DA Charlotte Gudis.