Anthony Villegas Faces up to 9 Years in Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Anthony Villegas, age 48, of Monticello, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree. At sentencing on November 7, 2024, the People will recommend that he be sentenced to ten (10) years in prison, to be followed by ten (10) years of post-release supervision. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Villegas pled guilty, the court agreed to cap the defendant’s sentence exposure to nine (9) years in prison to be followed by ten (10) years of post-release supervision. As part of the sentence, Villegas will also be registered as a sex offender under the New York Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA). At the plea proceedings, Villegas admitted that between June 2010 and April 2011, being eighteen (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 thirteen (13) years old.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation which led to the arrest of the defendant.
“Children are our most innocent and vulnerable victims,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “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.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
