EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE PERPETRATOR OF

“VOODOO RITUAL” SEXUAL ASSAULTS 

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Hector Aviles (DOB 12/23/56) of 55 School Street, Yonkers, New York was sentenced today as a second child sexual assault felony offender and a predicate felony offender to eight years in state prison with five years post release supervision on his guilty plea to one count of Rape in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony and two counts of Rape in the Third Degree, class “E” Felonies.

Between October 1, 2006 and October 31, 2006, the defendant approached a sixteen year old the victim and her friend in the vicinity of South Broadway in Yonkers and indicated that he practiced “Santeria” and could help them with their problems.

He looked at the victim’s palms and told them that he could read their “cards” referring to tarot cards and help them get boys and get along better with their parents. The victim went to the defendant’s residence along with two other underage girls for a “reading”.  While in his apartment, the defendant ascertained the girls’ ages and conducted a reading.

He stated that he could help them with their troubles and further decreed that each girl needed to perform a ritual with him in order to attain success. He warned that once they agreed to the ritual they could not back out or change their mind or else something terrible would happen to them and their families. 

The defendant then sexually assaulted the victim.

Between November 6th, 2006 and November 8th, 2006, Aviles did a reading for a second victim, this time a 14 year old girl. He looked at tarot cards and informed the victim about various things in her life, including the fact that she was fourteen years old and that she was not getting along with her mother. The victim was also warned that if she backed out or changed her mind after agreeing to the ritual, then something terrible would happen to her and her family members. 

He then sexually assaulted the victim.

Between November 6th, 2006 and November 27th, 2006, the defendant repeated the scenario with a third victim – a sixteen year old girl.       

On October 17, 2007, as part of a continuing investigation, the defendant spoke with the Yonkers police department regarding the allegations. 

At that time, the defendant denied any involvement with the girls, denied that he practiced “Santeria”, but admitted to practicing “Voodoo”.  At that time, the defendant was then arrested.

Upon his release from prison, Aviles will be required to register as a sexual offender under the provisions of the New York State Sexual Offender Registry Act, commonly known as Megan’s Law.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lopez, of the Sex Crimes Bureau, prosecuted the case.

Hector Aviles