DA: Ex-Yankee Torres Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Girl

Former New York Yankee Rosendo “Rusty” Torres was sentenced Thursday for sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl during baseball practice sessions in Plainview, authorities said.

Torres, 66, of North Massapequa, was sentenced to three years in prison with 10 years of of post-release supervision, the Nassau County District Attorney’s office said.

Torres, who played for the Yankees in the 1970s, must register as a sex offender upon release. He was found guilty in July of five counts of first-degree sexual abuse, according to the DA’s office.

The abuse occurred between and April and May 2012 while Torres acted as a youth baseball coach for the Town of Oyster Bay, District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. Torres was arrested May 8, 2012.

“As a professional athlete, people looked up to this defendant and trusted him to teach America’s favorite pastime to their children,” Rice said, in a statement. “Instead, he violated that trust and committed horrible acts against a defenseless young girl.”

In November, lawyers defending Torres claimed jurors were manipulated into changing their votes to end deliberations. Ajudge shot down those claims and upheld the guilty verdict.

Torres had been acquitted of charges of that he abused another girl under the age of 11.

On Thursday, an attorney representing Torres told Newsday that his client was “‘sad’’ about the sentence and maintains his innocence.”

Rice, however, said, “Though nothing can erase the hurt and pain caused by this defendant, I hope this sentence will provide a measure of justice for his victim and her loved ones.”

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