Man found in Hamptons after 'violent sexual assault' Sentenced: DA

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — A Farmingville man was sentenced to 18 years in prison after raping, beating and strangling his estranged wife and then fleeing to a Sagaponack beach where she tried to wrest a gun from a police officer in 2022, authorities said.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney's office is not naming the man to protect the identity of the sexual assault victim.

As determined by the investigation and guilty plea, on Nov. 13, 2022, the man and woman were going through a divorce but were living together in separate areas of the marital home, TIerney said.

At about 6 a.m., the woman was toweling off in the bathroom after a shower when the man broke down the bathroom door and began assaulting her, dragging her from the bathroom into his bedroom and then strangling her until she passed out , Tierney said.

When the woman awoke, he was beating her and violently sexually assaulting her, the DA said. She tried to escape, but he chased after her and continued to beat her, then strangled her until she passed out again, the DA said. He continued to beat and sexually assault the woman for three hours, forcing her to shower before planning his escape, Tierney said.

He hid the woman's phone in the home to prevent her from calling the police and left apologetic notes on their beds for their two children, who were not home at the time, the DA said.

Once the man fled, the woman was able to find a phone and call for help. while she was taken to the hospital for a medical examination for sexual assault and treatment for her injuries, police used K-9 units and air traffic to help locate the man, Tierney said.

He was found in Sagaponack by Southampton Town police officers, where he had driven his truck onto the beach, Tierney said.

He resisted arrest and fought with one of the officers in an attempt to gain control of the officer's gun, the DA said. Three officers were able to handcuff the man and take him into custody, the DA said.

The investigation later revealed that portions of the assault on his estranged wife had been caught on video surveillance inside the home, the DA said.

On Sept. 25, he pleaded guilty to the following charges before Acting Superior Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis, Tierney said:

– Two counts of first degree rape, class B felonies.

– Five counts of first degree criminal sexual act, class B felonies.

– Three counts of first-degree sexual assault, Class D felonies.

– Two counts of second-degree strangulation, Class D felonies.

– One count of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony.

– One count of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, a Class A misdemeanor.

– One count of third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor.

– One count of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.

– Two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, Class A misdemeanors

– One count of first-degree harassment, a class B misdemeanor.

On Monday, Judge Wilutis sentenced the man to 18 years in prison followed by 18 years of post-release supervision, the DA said. Represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.

“This survivor showed tremendous courage to hold the defendant accountable for his heinous actions,” Tierney said. “My office always puts survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault first, and we encourage anyone who has been a victim to report these crimes to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department or the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.”