Alvarez
MONTICELLO – A Union City, New Jersey man faces up to seven years in state prison when sentenced in December after being convicted in Sullivan County Court on Thursday to two counts of felony sexual abuse.
Following a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for one hour or so before returned the verdict in the case in which Jefferson Alvarez, 35, subjected the 11-year-old female victim to sexual contact at a home in Monticello back in August 2013.
Alvarez was arrested after the child told her mother about the abuse and she notified the Monticello Police, who investigated the allegations.
At trial, Alvarez maintained he was not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury rejected that defense.
District Attorney James Farrell asked the judge to continue him without bail or on $100,000 bail as Alvarez is a resident alien from Columbia might flee.
At a bail hearing held Friday, County Court Judge Michael McGuire raised his current bail from $15,000 to $30,000 and ordered his passport be surrendered.
“It certainly took courage for this child to testify in court about what the defendant did to her and we are extremely pleased that the jury rejected the defendant’s alleged defense of insanity and, now, as a result, the defendant will be held accountable and responsible for abusing the child,” Farrell said.
