(Vernon, CT) - Craig P. Nowak, State’s Attorney for the Tolland Judicial District, today announced that The Honorable Tejas Bhatt on September 23, 2026 sentenced Cody Cutler, age 28, of Southington, to 10 years in prison, execution suspended after 40 months served, and 10 years of probation.
On July 15, 2026, a jury in Superior Court in Rockville found Cutler guilty of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-71, and Risk of Injury to a Minor, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-21(a)(1)(b).
Evidence at trial showed that on December 18, 2020, the defendant used the social media messaging platform Snapchat to meet the minor victim and subsequently sexually assaulted her. The minor victim immediately reported the assault and was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center where medical treatment provided physical evidence corroborating the victim’s report.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Trudeau prosecuted the case with the assistance of Inspector John DiVenere and Paralegal Specialist Jennifer McDermott and the cooperation of the Coventry Police Department, the Connecticut State Police Troop K, and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Forensic Science Laboratory.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim, who testified at trial, addressed the court, describing the impact the assault and the trial process had on her both mentally and physically. “I never felt comfortable telling my parents the details of how Cody raped me,” the victim said. “But I was forced to go into extreme detail while in court. I had to expose the most painful moments of my life in a room full of strangers. No parent should ever have to hear how their child was raped.”
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Trudeau and the Tolland State’s Attorney’s Office thank and commend the minor victim for her courage in reporting her assault, her patience during the pretrial investigations, and her bravery, candor, and composure during her trial testimony.
“Meaningful prison sentences for those convicted of sexual assault matter,” Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Trudeau said. “This victim endured trauma both from the crime itself and from having to relive it while testifying. When sentences reflect the gravity of these offenses, they reinforce accountability and encourage victims to come forward.”