The illegal immigrant convicted of violently abducting a young woman off of a downtown Saratoga Springs street last July, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, 10 years of post release supervision and deportation on Tuesday, July 6, according to Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy.
Victor Hernandez-Perez, 23, was sentenced for the violent felony crimes of kidnapping, robbery and assault and brandishing a weapon, stemming from an incident last July where he abducted a woman on her walk home from downtown Saratoga Springs, hitting her over the head and dragging her into his van where he ordered her to strip off her clothing so he could rape and kill her, according to information from Murphy’s office.
The victim read a prepared statement to County Court Judge Jerry J. Scarano, said Murphy, which stated that she believed her life was over that night.
Hernandez-Perez was sentenced to 25 years in state prison and 10 years of post release supervision. In addition, the judge ordered an eight-year order of protection, which starts once he is released from prison. Immigrations Customs Enforcement will deport Hernandez-Perez upon the conclusion of his state prison sentence and return him to El Salvador, said Murphy.
Twenty-five years in state prison ensures criminals who prey on innocent people are punished. Criminals need to know that if you kidnap someone, you are going to prison for a long, long time. That is what the victim wanted, we wanted and what the judge delivered. We live in safe place because there is a serious consequence to criminal conduct, said Murphy in a statement. `He picked the wrong woman. She is physically strong but more important, she is mentally strong. She had the will to live and jumped from a van going 60 miles an hour in the middle of nowhere, at night, naked and rolled for nearly 100 feet on the pavement.`
Murphy said the victim ran into the woods barefoot and was pursued by Hernandez-Perez, until she reached a house and he fled back to his van and escaped.
The jury also found that the crimes were `sexually motivated` which allows for enhanced sentencing, including registration on the Sex offender Registry and additional prison time, according to information from Murphy’s office.
Murphy said immigration policies have changed for the better.
`Immigration used to simply deport upon arrest; we worked hard to change that policy as there was no incentive to be law abiding. If someone broke the law, and they were in the country illegally, they just got a one way ticket home and could come back and try again. Now if they commit a crime, they still get the one way ticket home, it’s just after they do their time in prison,` said Murphy in a statement.
“