West Haven Man Sentenced In Gunpoint Sexual Assault Of Co-Worker: DCJ

WEST HAVEN, CT — A West Haven man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2019 burglary and sexual assault of a co-worker at gunpoint, according to officials.

Miguel Cuapio-Mendieta, 26, was also sentenced Thursday to 10 years of probation following the prison term, Ansonia/Milford Judicial District State’s Attorney Margaret E. Kelley announced.

Cuapio-Mendieta was arrested on Dec. 29, 2019 following an investigation by the West Haven Police Department. On that day, a woman who worked with Cuapio-Mendieta told police that he entered her apartment with force, dressed in black clothing, with a black ski mask and backpack, according to a news release.

Officials said Cuapio-Mendieta struggled with the victim in the home, and took a black handgun from his bag.

“He threatened to kill her and her entire family if she did not do what he said,” officials wrote in the news release.

She was handcuffed, forced to kneel and forced to perform a sex act while the gun was held to her head, according to officials.

“He then threw her on the bed, and started removing her clothing,” officials wrote in the news release. “Blacked-out goggles were placed over her eyes. At some point, she was able to free herself from the handcuffs and remove the goggles, at which time she saw the assailant’s face and recognized him as an acquaintance from work. She screamed she was going to call the police and he fled the apartment.

“After the assault, the victim received a number of text messages from the defendant admitting the assault and claiming he was coerced into this action by an unknown individual who was threatening the lives of his family members. The defendant was located in New Haven and ultimately led police to where he had stashed the backpack used in the incident, which contained the blacked-out goggles, ski mask and what was at that time determined to be a BB gun.”

Cuapio-Mendieta pleaded guilty in February to substituted charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and first-degree burglary.

At Thursday’s hearing in Milford Superior Court, Judge Kevin S. Russo sentenced Cuapio-Mendieta after hearing arguments and statements from the victim and her family.

“The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Alanna Paul and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Tatiana Messina, with the assistance of former Inspector Patrick Dooling (retired),” according to the release. “The following agencies greatly assisted: the Rape Crisis Center of Milford, the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Office of Victim Services and interpreter services.”