Suffolk Man To Serve 25 Years For Rape Of 8-Year-Old Girl

A Patchogue man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of an 8-year-old girl, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Maximo Vera, 38, was found guilty in August of first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He wills serve his sentence at an upstate correctional facility.

Authorities say Vera sexually abused and raped the girl from the winter of 2014 to June of 2015. An investigation into the abuse began after the girl told her fifth grade teacher about her encounters with Vera, the DA said. Vera was arrested on Sept. 21 2016.

"Vera preyed on this young girl robbing her of her innocence," Spota said after Vera's conviction.

Image via NCDA