Avon Man Sentenced For Rape Of 7-Year-Old Girl

AVON, CT — Jerry Zapata, 29, of Avon, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and seven years of special parole for repeatedly raping a 7-year-old girl, The Hartford Courant reported. Zapata pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree sexual assault in August as part of a plea deal to avoid a longer prison sentence.

Zapata had previously denied that he raped the child but admitted to his crimes in court Tuesday. The victim told the court via a letter read by her mother that she had kept quiet because Zapata threatened to hurt her and her mother.

Read the full story in The Courant.