Defendant: Julio Cortez (DOB 11/20/78)

Sept. 30, 2020 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced Julio Cortez of Bedford Hills was sentenced Friday (9/25) to state prison for sexually abusing a child. He appeared before State Supreme Court Justice Barry Warhit.

Cortez pleaded guilty to Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, a class B violent felony, in October. Justice Warhit imposed a 12-year sentence with 15 years’ post-release supervision. Upon release, he will have to register as a sex offender.

Background
On Oct. 07, 2018, the Bedford Police Department received a phone call from a teenage girl that said her classmate was being sexually abused. The teen had been on a FaceTime video chat with her friend and saw an adult, who was not part of her family, in the room with her friend. Later, when the teen inquired who he was, the victim revealed to her friend that the man was a neighbor who had been sexually abusing her for years when her parents were not home. The child victim was eventually interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center. The defendant was interviewed by police and admitted the sexual relationship.

Special Prosecutions Division Assistant District Attorney Amit Parab prosecuted the case.

 In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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