Teenager admits guilt in rape at knifepoint

Felipe Dejesus-Flores faces up to 25 years when sentenced for attack, burglary

By MICHELE MORGAN BOLTON, Staff writer

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/st ... =8/31/2006

First published: Thursday, August 31, 2006

ALBANY -- A 16-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico faces 25 years in prison after pleading guilty on Wednesday to the brutal knifepoint rape in December of a University at Albany student and a separate burglary.

Felipe Dejesus-Flores, who gave police an address of 448 Livingston Ave., became a suspect after his DNA matched that of the victim. He was detained by police months earlier when another woman who lives on South Lake Avenue said he tried to follow her into her apartment building.


In his plea before Albany County Judge Stephen W. Herrick, Dejesus-Flores admitted, through an interpreter, that he broke into the woman's home on Dec. 10, woke her from a sound sleep and raped her.

He also admitted carrying out an earlier Aug. 5 burglary on Sherman Street in which he stole the kitchen knife he used to threaten his rape victim, a prosecutor said.

In that incident, Dejesus-Flores tried to break down a woman's locked bedroom door and only fled when the resident called a friend for help, said Assistant District Attorney Shannon Sarfoh.

She praised the rape victim for having the presence of mind to escape and seek help and the bravery to take the case to court.

"I'm glad this plea happened, and glad now that she can put it behind her," Sarfoh said. "She's very strong."

According to the plea agreement, Dejesus-Flores will be sentenced to 18 years on the first-degree rape charge, and another 7 years for the burglary, to run consecutively, when he reappears on Oct. 17.

Sarfoh also praised Albany Police Detective Robert Wise: "He did a phenomenal job and really put the pieces together."