Thread: NY-Saratoga Springs assault suspect is an illegal immigrant

Police: Saratoga Springs assault suspect is an illegal immigrant
Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2010

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Aldofo Merino-Lopez, of 43 Ash St., was quickly located Saturday morning near the scene of the attack and arrested. He is currently in Saratoga County Jail and charged with second-degree assault and first-degree unlawful imprisonment, both felonies; and forcible touching, a misdemeanor.

He was treated at Saratoga Hospital for injuries to his hands and face that were inflicted by the victim as she escaped.

Merino-Lopez was arraigned by Judge Douglas Mills on Saturday and his bail was set at $75,000 cash or $150,000 bond, neither of which he had posted as of Monday evening.

Catone said Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have confirmed that he is in the country illegally. He did not release any more information about the alleged attacker except to say that he does not work at Saratoga Race Course.
http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010 ... 422451.txt

Intial story:
[quote]Saratoga Springs man in police custody after Saturday morning assault
Published: Sunday, April 11, 2010

By MAREESA NICOSIA, The Saratogian




SARATOGA SPRINGS — City police have charged a 37-year-old Saratoga Springs man with felony assault following an attack reported early Saturday morning.

The victim, a 22-year-old woman, told police she was walking alone on Circular Street just north of the intersection with Lake Avenue at about 4 a.m. when a man approached her from behind and grabbed her by her hair, then grabbed her genital area and began forcibly kissing her. She fought off her attacker and fled to the Lake Avenue Fire Station, where she called police from the emergency phone located outside the building.

The woman provided police with a description of the man and his direction of travel, and responding officers quickly located Aldofo Merino-Lopez, 37, of 43 Ash St., a short distance from the scene. He was charged with second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment, both felonies; and forcible touching, a misdemeanor.

Police said dispatchers received a separate call at about the same time, in which the caller reported hearing a woman screaming for help in the area of Lake Avenue and Circular Street.

Saratoga Springs Police Chief Christopher Cole said the woman was walking home and was talking on her cell phone when the attack occurred. Merino-Lopez had apparently followed her from the downtown area and may have been drinking, but police are not yet ready to confirm that, he said.

The woman and Merino-Lopez did not know each other, Cole added.

No weapon was threatened or displayed in the incident.

The woman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Saratoga Hospital and released.

Merino-Lopez is currently being held in the city jail, where police are working with interpreters to communicate with him. Cole said police are investigating Merino-Lopez’s residency status and are attempting to locate any witnesses who may have seen him downtown.

This is the latest of several late-night assaults that have been reported within the city limits in recent months.

In July, a 24-year-old woman escaped from a moving van after being abducted at gunpoint by a man who forced her to strip and said he planned to rape and kill her. The woman was walking on Walnut Street and talking on her cell phone at night when the incident occurred.

Several days later, police arrested Victor Vladimir Hernandez-Perez on felony kidnapping and robbery charges. Hernandez-Perez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was living in Corinth, could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted when the case is brought before a grand jury. Investigators have attempted to link him to a violent gang.

In October, a female student at Skidmore College reported an attempted assault by the cab driver who was transporting her back to campus late at night. No charges have been made in that incident.

Cole said he highly recommends that people not walk alone at night if they have the option to walk with a friend, no matter what their age is.

“Saratoga Springs is a very safe city and we stand by that, but unfortunately, this is a city and we encourage everybody to be aware of their surroundings,â€

Man admits to sexual assault of Skidmore student on Saratoga Springs street

Posted: Tuesday, March 1, 2011 6:27 pm | (0) Comments

BALLSTON SPA -- A 38-year-old man who authorities say is in the country illegally admitted Tuesday in Saratoga County Court to assaulting a 22-year-old Skidmore College student and is now expected to spend two years in prison.

Adolfo Merino-Lopez, who authorities say lived on Ash Street in Saratoga Springs but is originally from Mexico, was arrested in April 2010 because, police said, he attacked the woman at about 4 a.m. near downtown Saratoga Springs.

Police say Merino-Lopez grabbed the woman by her hair, touched her genital area and forcibly kissed her before she was able to break free. The woman called police from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department on Lake Avenue, near the scene of the attack.

Merino-Lopez pleaded not guilty after being indicted in October 2010, but on Tuesday pleaded guilty to felony charges of second-degree assault, first-degree stalking and first-degree attempted sexual abuse, as well as to four misdemeanor charges.

The felonies are classified as being "sexually motivated," and will require him to register as a sex offender in New York.

Merino-Lopez could face up to seven years in state prison when sentenced on April 26, but prosecutors say they will recommend he serve the minimum two-year term.

Saratoga County District Attorney Jim Murphy said the recommendation is based on the wishes of the victim, who is now living in another state, and the fact that prosecutors were able to avoid going to trial in the case.

Murphy said federal immigration officials have confirmed Merino-Lopez was in the U.S. illegally and will be deported after serving his sentence. Merino-Lopez will not be admitted back into the country.

Merino-Lopez remains in custody in Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $75,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

http://poststar.com

Merino-Lopez will not be admitted back into the country.



who wants to put bets on that one LOL !

Saratoga is one of my favorite places, it used to be safe, it still is beautiful in the summer and winter ( although some people wouldn't agree with the winter part...LOL!).

The reporting on these crimes is just the tip of the iceberg, believe me! There are so many horse farms in the surrounding areas, that now UPSTATE NY is awash in illegals who work these farms. I always wonder how these people can see and hear stories like this and not want to get rid of those in their employ. They really have no idea who is working and sometimes living on their farms!

Saratoga Springs attacker who got bitten now getting deported

By DREW KERR
Posted: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 7:41 pm
8 Comments


BALLSTON SPA -- A 38-year-old man who prosecutors say entered the country illegally three times before assaulting a female student from Skidmore College last year was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 months in jail and is now due to be deported.

Adolfo Merino-Lopez, found carrying an identification card listing his address as Indianapolis, Ind., at the time of the attack, was arrested in April 2010 after grabbing the woman in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Police say Merino-Lopez grabbed the woman from behind, put his hand over her mouth and tried to put his hand between her legs during the attack, which occurred at about 4 a.m. near the Saratoga Springs fire station on Lake Avenue.

The woman, who is not being identified, bit Merino-Lopez's hand and fled to the fire station where she called police. Merino-Lopez was arrested just 50 feet from the woman, authorities said.

At the sentencing Tuesday in Saratoga County Court, prosecutors read a prepared statement from the victim that said she thinks about the attack every day and that she hopes the act "eats away" at Merino-Lopez's conscience.

"I hope this will haunt you for the rest of your life," said the victim, who had taken a self-defense course prior to the attack. "You chose to mess with the wrong person."

The victim was not hospitalized after the attack, but had hair pulled from her head when she ripped herself free, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say this is the third time Merino-Lopez had been found in the country illegally, and that he had previously been deported to Mexico. A deportation hearing is pending but prosecutors say he will be deported again.

Merino-Lopez was living on Ash Street in Saratoga Springs at the time of the attack, authorities say.

He was charged with three felonies, including assault, stalking and sexual abuse. He pleaded guilty to the charges in March.

The charges are classified as being "sexually motivated," which requires him to register as a sex offender in New York for the remainder of his life.

http://poststar.com