An East Hartford man has been convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child who authorities say was abused for about seven years before investigators tied the assailant to the case using DNA.
Raymond Reyes, 46, has been found guilty of first-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.
The verdict was handed down on Tuesday following a trial in Hartford Superior Court, officials said.
The accusations were first brought to the East Hartford Police Department in August 2022 when they received the report of a sexual assault involving a minor. The girl reportedly disclosed the allegations to a friend who then told a camp counselor, according to the DCJ.
The child underwent a sexual assault forensic examination at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. The evidence kit was sent to the state laboratory for testing, which found that the DNA collected was consistent with that of Reyes, according to officials.
Evidence at trial showed that Reyes had sexually assaulted the girl multiple times between the ages of 4 and 11 years old, according to officials.
Reyes remains held in lieu of $2 million bond and is scheduled to face sentencing on April 29, court records show.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Samantha Magnani and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Katelynn MacKinnon, with the assistance of Inspector Carlos Ocasio and Paralegal Specialist Kelly Randall.
In a news release announcing the conviction, Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese Walcott thanked the trial team led by Magnani “for the care and dedication they showed in preparing the victim for this difficult stage of their journey.” She also extended gratitude to East Hartford police “for their assistance throughout the case, and most importantly, to the victim and the compassionate victim‑services community that supported her.”
“These cases are incredibly difficult for everyone involved, including the members of the jury who were tasked with hearing such heartbreaking evidence,” Walcott said.