Vernon Man Gets 30 Years In Child Sex Assault Case

VERNON, CT — A Vernon mad has been ordered to prison for three decades in a child sex assault case.

Tolland Judicial District State's Attorney Craig P. Nowak announced that Judge Tejas Bhatt on Friday sentenced Hernan Ayala, 34, of Vernon, to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor.

Ayala had entered a guilty plea to first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

An investigation by the Vernon Police Department revealed that from 2018 to 2021, Ayala had sexually abused a minor at his residence in Vernon beginning when she was 11 years old, according to case and arrest records. "Prior sexual abuse" occurred outside the Judicial District of Tolland beginning when the victim was 8 years old, case records indicate.

Both the victim and her mother were present at Friday's sentencing hearing and provided written letters to the court describing how they were impacted by Ayala's crimes.

At the proceedings, Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Emily D. Trudeau, who prosecuted the case with Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Jaclyn Preville, referred to Ayala's actions as "horrific" and highlighted for the court the written statement of the victim.

In addition to imposing the sentence, Judge Bhatt said the offenses will require lifetime registry as a sex offender for Ayala.

The case was investigated by the Vernon Police Department, Manchester Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.