CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Central Islip man who stabbed and strangled his wife while she slept, then was arrested months later after drunkenly crashing into her vehicle, was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison, prosecutors said.
Rodolfo Alvarez, 35, was sentenced Aug. 20 by Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz after pleading guilty in April to attempted murder and a series of other charges, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney's office.
Alvarez will also serve five years of post-release supervision.
According to court documents and Alvarez's admissions during his guilty plea, the attack happened May 10, 2024, while his wife was sleeping in her Central Islip home.
Alvarez stabbed her in the back with a kitchen knife and strangled her until she lost consciousness, prosecutors said. He then dragged her to the floor and continued strangling her until a relative entered the room and told Alvarez that police were on their way, according to the DA's office.
Alvarez fled before officers arrived. His wife was taken to South Shore University Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries.
Police were unable to locate Alvarez for more than four months.
On Sept. 26, 2024, Alvarez rear-ended and sideswiped his wife's vehicle while she was driving to work, causing his own vehicle to roll over, prosecutors said.
Alvarez fled the crash on foot but was found by police a short distance away, according to the DA's office. Officers observed signs of intoxication, and a blood sample taken about an hour after the crash showed Alvarez had a blood alcohol content of .22, prosecutors said.
The DA's office did not state whether authorities believe Alvarez intentionally struck his wife's vehicle.
Alvarez pleaded guilty April 28 to attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, second-degree strangulation, aggravated driving while intoxicated, two counts of driving while intoxicated, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree reckless endangerment, fourth-degree criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an incident resulting in injury.
Prosecutors said Alvarez had four previous DWI convictions — one in 2014, two in 2019 and another in 2023. He also has prior convictions for first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal mischief and third-degree menacing.
Alvarez was represented by Gerard Donnelly, who was not available for comment.
"Today, justice has been served against this defendant who strangled and stabbed his sleeping wife," Tierney said. "Thankfully, she survived that brutal attack and will no longer have to worry about her safety while this defendant serves many years in prison."
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