Westchester DA: 'Serial Groper' Pleads Guilty

Thirty-nine-year-old New Rochelle resident Guillermo Merino Tuesday pleaded guilty to two felony counts in connection with his arrest for groping four women earlier this year, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced.

The attacks occurred over an 11-day period in June in various parts of New Rochelle, and involved him grabbing the buttocks of his victims.

He faces a maximum of four years in prison when he is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

Below is the announcement from DiFiore concerning the guilty plea:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Guillermo Merino(DOB 02/24/75) of 19 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle, New York pled guilty today to:

• one count of Persistent Sexual Abuse, a class “E” Felony,
• one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a class “E” Felony.

Over a period of 11 days, in four separate incidents, the defendant inappropriately touched four women.

• On June 18th, 2014, at approximately 8:02 P.M. at the intersection of Sickles Avenue & Prince Street, in New Rochelle, New York, the defendant intentionally and for no legitimate purpose grabbed the victim’s buttocks, without permission or consent, for the purpose of gratifying his sexual desire.

• On June 23rd, 2014, at approximately 8:25 A.M on Van Guilder Avenue, in New Rochelle, the defendant intentionally and for no legitimate purpose grabbed a second victim’s buttocks, without permission or consent, for the purpose of gratifying his sexual desire.

• On June 27, 2014, at approximately 7:15 A.M, at 28 Harrison Street, in New Rochelle, the defendant intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose grabbed a third victim’s buttocks, without permission or consent, for the purpose of gratifying his sexual desire.

• On June 29, 2014, 5:35 PM at 24 Station Plaza, in New Rochelle, the defendant intentionally and for no legitimate purpose grabbed a fourth victim’s buttocks, without permission or consent, for the purpose of gratifying his sexual desire.

The charges in this complaint stem from the defendant committing the offense of Forcible Touching - a Misdemeanor.

However, if over the last ten years, the defendant has been convicted two or more times of Forcible Touching, in separate criminal transactions and had been sentenced for these enumerated crimes, these subsequent charges are elevated to Felonies.

In this instance, he was previously convicted of Forcible Touching on January 17th, 2014, June 15th, 2007 and on March 15th, 2007.

Further investigation revealed he was a level 2 sex offender and had failed to comply with his registration obligations after moving to New Rochelle earlier this year from New York City.

The defendant was arrested by New Rochelle police on June 30th, 2014.

Bail was continued at $25,000 cash or bond.

Sentencing will be on December 2nd, 2014.

He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lopez, Deputy Chief of the Sex Crimes Bureau, is prosecuting the case.

Photo: Guillermo Merino. Photo credit: Westchester District Attorney’s office

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