She called a friend to help him dig the car out of the mud, he sexually abused her

KINGSTON, NY – A New Paltz man who pretended to be a knight in shining armor turned out to be an abusive predator.

The Ulster County District Attorney announced that 45-year-old Alixandro Peraza Varela was sentenced last week in Ulster County Court for his conviction by the Honorable Bryan E. Rounds to a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison with ten years of post-release supervision for first-degree violent crime sexual abuse. He was also sentenced to one year in prison for his misdemeanor wrongful imprisonment.

Varela must also register with the New York State Sex Offender Registry.

He was convicted of the crimes on July 19 after a five-day jury trial.

According to court documents, on February 24, 2023, Varela sexually assaulted a woman in her vehicle in the town of Gardiner. She had called Varela, a family friend, for help when her vehicle got stuck in the mud. After they removed their vehicle, Varela declined the victim’s offer of payment and instead suggested being paid another way.

According to the district attorney, he forcefully grabbed the woman’s vagina with his hand, licked her lips and stopped her from leaving. Immediately after the attack, the woman called and reported it to her husband, who comforted her and helped her get immediate medical attention for her injuries at a hospital.

New York State Police in Highland conducted a sexual assault investigation.

The trial required the use of court-certified interpreters for the woman and some witnesses.

At sentencing, the woman presented a statement of damages outlining the enormous physical and psychological trauma and financial costs her family has suffered since the attack.

“I thank the court for recognizing and taking into account the trauma the defendant inflicted on the victim and her family by imposing the maximum sentence permitted by law,” said Assistant District Attorney Luba Reznikova, who also serves as director of the Ulster County serves intimate partner violence intervention task force. “Unfortunately, the financial and psychological toll of sexual assault on victims of these heinous crimes is all too common, and no sentence can restore this victim to who she was before the assault.”

District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said the outcome was due to significant sacrifices and contributions from all sides.

“I commend the victim for his courage in reporting the attack and testifying at trial; the same goes for her husband,” Nneji said. “I am proud of the work the ADAs did before the jury to preserve the dignity of the victim.”