An East Elmhurst man was sentenced to 23 years in prison Tuesday for sexually abusing a young girl he babysat for three years.
Jose Nivelo, 43, of 97th Street was convicted by a jury last month of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree following a week-long trial before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant. Nivelo was babysitting the girl in his home when the abuse occurred.
Beginning in April 2012, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said the defendant Nivelo, who regularly picked up the 7-year-old girl from school while her mother worked, began sexually assaulting her inside his then-home on Hampton Street in Elmhurst. Nivelo groped her body and made her undress in front of him on numerous occasions.
After Nivelo moved to an apartment on 97th Street in East Elmhurst and the child turned 8, he escalated the abuse by repeatedly engaging the child in acts of anal and oral sexual conduct.
“Instead of providing safe care for this young girl while her mother worked the defendant has brought unimaginable trauma and pain to the victim by sexually abusing her for years,” Katz said. “The protection of our children is paramount and has remained a top priority throughout my entire career in public service. The defendant will now serve a lengthy prison term for his despicable actions.”
Justice Pandit-Durant imposed a sentence of 23 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of post-release supervision. Nivelo will also be required to register as a sex offender.
