School Janitor Who Sexually Assaulted 8-Year-Old Girl In Empty Classroom Learns Sentence: DA

YONKERS, NY — A Westchester County man was sentenced this week for sexually abusing a second-grader.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that 45-year-old Cesar Ortega Licona, of Yonkers, who worked as a public school janitor in the Bronx, was sentenced by a judge on Monday to five years in prison plus five years post-release supervision. In addition, he will be required to register as a sex offender.

Licona pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse on September 9.

"The defendant grabbed a little girl and abused her, in what should be a haven for children," Clark said. "He will spend five years in prison and register as a sex offender for violating a child."

According to investigators, on December 17, 2024, around 3:45 p.m., Licona forcefully pulled an 8-year-old girl into an empty classroom, and then sexually assaulted her. After she ran out of the classroom screaming for help, a teacher called 9-1-1, the DA said.

Prosecutors say Licona was linked to the attack by DNA.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant DA Camila Sosa of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Johanna Hernandez, Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, Alexandra Militano, Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, Mimi Mairs, Chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Adrienne Giunta, Deputy Chief of Special Victims Division and Joseph Muroff, Chief of Special Victims Division.

DA Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Sara Gissel of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, and NYPD Officer Jessica Zerbo from the 52nd Precinct for their work on the case.