An East Elmhurst man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl for three years while he babysat her at his home (Photo: istock)
June 10, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
An East Elmhurst man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl over a three-year period while he babysat her at his home.
Jose Nivelo, 43, was convicted of child sex crimes yesterday for the abuse that started more than a decade ago.
Nivelo was found guilty after a weeklong trial at Queens Supreme Court, authorities announced Friday. He faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 24.
According to the charges, Nivelo began babysitting the girl more than a decade ago at his then home on Hampton Street in Elmhurst. He would pick her up from school and look after her while the girl’s mother was at work.
In April 2012, he began sexually assaulting her inside his home when she was age 7, authorities said. Nivelo, according to court records, groped her body and had her undress in front of him on numerous occasions.
He then escalated his sexual abuse when she turned 8-years-old. By that time, he had moved to an address on 97th Street in East Elmhurst, prosecutors said.
Nivelo engaged the girl in acts of anal and oral sexual conduct while he babysat her at his 97th Street residence, prosecutors said.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said that Nivelo exploited his role as a babysitter to sexually abuse the child.
“This was a betrayal of trust in the worst possible way, bringing unimaginable trauma and pain to this young victim,” Katz said.
Katz, who served in the State Assembly from 1994 to 1999, said Nivelo was prosecuted under legislation she championed while she was in office. She said the legislation was passed to make sure predators were held accountable for violating children.
“I remain committed to seeking justice on behalf of all survivors, even if years have passed since they were harmed,” Katz said.
“The defendant has now been convicted and will be sentenced by the court for his heinous actions.”
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