(Vernon, CT) - Craig P. Nowak, State’s Attorney for the Tolland Judicial District, announced that the Honorable Tejas Bhatt today sentenced Hernan Ayala, age 34, of Vernon, to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor.
Ayala pleaded guilty at Rockville Superior Court to Sexual Assault in the First Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-70(a)(2), and Risk of Injury to a Minor, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-21(a)(1).
Investigation by the Vernon Police Department revealed that from 2018 to 2021, the defendant had sexually abused a minor at his residence in Vernon beginning when the victim was 11 years old. Prior sexual abuse occurred outside the Judicial District of Tolland beginning when the victim was 8 years old.
Both the victim and her mother were present at today’s sentencing hearing and provided written letters to the court describing how they were impacted by the defendant’s crimes.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Emily D. Trudeau, who prosecuted the case with Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Jaclyn Preville, at today’s sentencing hearing referred to the defendant’s actions as “horrific” and highlighted for the court the written statement of the victim. In addition to imposing the sentence, Judge Bhatt advised the defendant that these offenses will require lifetime registry as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Vernon Police Department, Manchester Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.