Yonkers man hit with 50-year max sentence for ‘horrific’ sex crimes against child

A Yonkers man was sentenced to 50 years behind bars for “horrific” sex crimes against a child who said in a court statement the man ruined their childhood.

Convicted rapist Virgilio Cruz, 48, was hit with the maximum sentence – two consecutive 25-year prison terms – Tuesday after he was found guilty of multiple violent felony charges last month, according to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

He was arrested in 2021 by Yonkers police, but not before he attempted to harm himself when he was confronted by the victim’s parents about his disgusting actions, the district attorney’s office said Tuesday.

Cruz was found guilty by a jury of first-degree rape, second-degree rape and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child following a weeklong trial on Sept. 16.

The victim told Cruz in a statement read into the court record prior to the defendant’s sentencing “You ruined my childhood.”

“I felt horrible for so long… I didn’t want to be around people,” the victim’s statement said, according to the district attorney’s office.

“I was numb…. I never knew what you would do next or what more you were capable of… The two emotions I felt constantly were fear and sadness. You had no right to do what you did to me.

“After today, I won’t ever think of you again… After today, you are nothing to me.” 

The victim was only 11-years-old when Cruz began to subject the child to sexual intercourse repeatedly in 2019, including some instances where the child was even asleep, prosecutors said. When the victim was 14-years-old, the defendant got into a struggle with the young teen before pinning down and raping the minor, prosecutors said.

The victim told a parent of Cruz’s despicable actions. When that parent confronted Cruz, he attempted to stab himself with a kitchen knife, the district attorney’s office said.

Police were called and the man was arrested in September 2021.

The victim’s gender was not released nor was the victim’s relationship to the defendant.

Cruz will also be registered as a sex offender and face 20 years of post-release supervision when his prison term ends.

“Today, this defendant was held to account for horrific crimes committed against a vulnerable child,” Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah said in a statement Tuesday. 

“We hope the victim, who was extraordinarily brave and testified in court, can begin their journey to healing and feeling safe.

“My Office and I remain committed to bringing sexual predators to justice and protecting victims from sexual violence.”