CENTRAL ISLIP MAN CONVICTED OF REPEATEDLY SEXUALLY ABUSING A CHILD

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Yonathan Ramirez Argueta, 28, of Central Islip, pleaded guilty to repeatedly sexually abusing a child over the course of four years.

“No child should ever once be subjected to such abuse, let alone to have it last over the course of four years of their young life. This defendant picked a defenseless innocent child to abuse and what he did is simply unacceptable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant’s conviction saves the victim from having to testify and should send a message that the sexual abuse of children will have severe consequences in Suffolk County.”

According to court documents and the guilty plea allocution, from May of 2018 to April of 2022, Ramirez Argueta began abusing the child when she was five years old and continued until she disclosed the abuse at nine years old. After the child’s disclosure, Ramirez Argueta immediately fled to Georgia and attempted to board a one-way flight to Central America. His attempt to flee prosecution was thwarted when he was arrested and extradited back to Suffolk County to face these charges.

On February 8, 2023, Ramirez Argueta pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis, to the entire indictment charging him with Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.

Ramirez Argueta is expected to be sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 18 years of post-release supervision. He is due back in court for sentencing on March 22, 2023. Ramirez Argueta is being represented by Douglas O’Connor of the Legal Aid Society.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dana Castaldo of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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