BAY SHORE MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING TWO MINOR RELATIVES

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced Edil Hernandez-Sevilla was sentenced to 40 years in prison on two counts of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, two counts of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the Second Degree, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

“This defendant sexually abused two defenseless children and as is often the scenario with these types of cases, the proof at trial consisted solely of the testimony of these two young and very brave victims,” said Tierney. “Nevertheless, the jury found the truth and held this defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  Thanks to the professionalism and effectiveness of the prosecutors and detectives leading this case, he is going to spend many years in prison time and he’s going to be monitored years after he serves his significant sentence.”

Hernandez-Sevilla, 39, was arrested on February 24, 2021 after one of the victims, a biological relative, disclosed the abuse to her guidance counselor. The evidence at trial established that the victims, now 12 and 13-years-old, were between 6 to 9-years-old and 7 to 10-years-old at the time of the abuse. 

In December 2020, the older victim disclosed the abuse to her guidance counselor, which led to an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department, culminating in his arrest.   The abuse occurred when they were living together in the same home and ended, approximately, when they no longer lived in the same residence.

Hernandez-Sevilla was convicted on March 30, 2022 after a trial heard before Suffolk County Court Judge Karen Wilutus. 

Judge Wilutus sentenced Hernandez-Sevilla as follows:

• Two Counts of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree (B violent felony). Each count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison which he is to serve consecutively.
• Two Counts of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the Second Degree (D violent felony) which carry seven plus 10 years of prison time which he is to serve concurrently.
• Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (A misdemeanor).  He will serve 364 days concurrent.

The trial lasted about a week and half and the defendant was represented by Chris Gioe.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tara Laterza and Assistant District Attorney Katherine Flinchum of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.

###

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

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

William J. Lindsay County Complex • Building 77 • 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788

(631) 853-4169 | SuffolkCountyNY.gov/DA