Man Gets Five Years In Derby Sex Assault Case

A man who has been behind bars since late 2010 was sentenced to serve five years in prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting an underage girl in Derby.

William Lugo, 44, had pleaded guilty in May at Superior Court in Milford to second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

His pleas came under the Alford doctrine, which means a defendant does not admit all the facts in a case but concedes there is enough evidence for a conviction at trial.

In court Tuesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Stango lauded the courage of the victim in the case, who he said Lugo victimized in a way no one should be victimized.”

The sexual assaults took place between 2004 and 2006, Stango said. The victim was between 13 and 15 years old at the time.

The Valley Independent is omitting information that could identify the victim in this case.

These Are Awful Cases’

Derby police arrested Lugo in the case in May 2010, according to court records. He has been in jail since.

These are awful cases,” Stango told Judge Richard Arnold. Essentially they’re cases that victimize those that just can’t defend themselves.”

The victim is in counseling and is trying not to be haunted” by what happened, he said, but was not enthusiastic” about the possibility of having to testify against Lugo.

She was in court surrounded by family members Tuesday and didn’t speak during the sentencing, but a statement she wrote was read by a victim’s advocate.

Because of him I have not been able to trust in anyone in my life,” the statement said. Not only do I feel violated, my life has become a violation because of him.”

I Had No Chance From The Beginning’

Lugo himself told Judge Arnold that he felt railroaded and and frustrated. He said that things he asked for as part of his defense, like a lie detector test, were never done.

His lawyer, Public Defender David Egan, had told Judge Arnold earlier that Lugo had considered withdrawing his guilty pleas Tuesday morning but then decided to go through with the sentencing.

I have no trust in the court,” Lugo told the judge. No trust. Because I had no chance from the beginning.” 

Judge Arnold replied to Lugo by noting that polygraph tests are inadmissible in court and that he was getting a significant discount” with respect to jail time because of the work his lawyer did and the fact that the victim in the case didn’t want to testify.

It’s a fair and just sentence,” Judge Arnold said.

I Don’t Know Where They Find The Bravery’

Before sending Lugo to jail, the judge then wondered aloud how victims so young have the strength necessary to come forward.

There are adults that would not undergo the scrutiny, the examination, the questions these young people undergo,” he said. I don’t know where they find the bravery. I don’t know where they find the fortitude.”

The sentence imposed Tuesday calls for a 10-year prison sentence to be suspended after Lugo serves five years, then 15 years of probation.

Lugo must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and undergo sex offender treatment. Judge Arnold also ordered him not to have any contact with minors unless supervised.

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