A Level 3 Sex Offender has been convicted of two counts of persistent sexual abuse following the assault of a woman in the Mt. Vernon Public Library.
Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said that Christopher Welch, 31, of 45 Pleasant St., New Rochelle, was present inside the Mt. Vernon Public Library at South 2nd Avenue on Oct. 16 about 1 p.m. when he accosted a 36-year-old woman by pressing his body into hers and placing his hands against her breasts.
As the victim tried to compose herself following the defendant’s assault, the defendant continued to harass her by raising his hand over his head and towards the back of her head as if to continue the assault.
When another woman came to the victim’s aid, the defendant displayed a cigarette lighter, yelled at the woman to mind her own business and flicked the flame of the cigarette lighter inches from her face.
Welch was then ejected from the library premises.
While loitering outside, the defendant approached a 42-year-old woman, reached around her body and grabbed and squeezed her buttocks.
He then fled the scene.
A description of Welch was broadcast by police and he was found in the vicinity and arrested.
At the time of these assaults, the defendant had previously been convicted of two prior misdemeanor sex offenses within the preceding 10-year period.
Those convictions allowed for the current assaults to be charged as felonies.
Welch will be sentenced on Feb. 3. He faces a maximum of four years in state prison on each of the counts. 12-18-08
"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment