Former Peekskill Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Sex Abuse

PEEKSKILL, NY — A former Peekskill police officer admitted in court that he sexually abused a woman he threatened with arrest.

Michael Agovino, 35, of Palisades, pleaded guilty Thursday to the following felony charges:

• Three counts of second-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony
• Two counts of second-degree burglary
• Two counts of first-degree sexual abuse
• Second-degree attempted burglary as a sexually motivated felony
• Second-degree attempted burglary
• First-degree stalking as a sexually motivated felony
• First-degree falsifying business records

Agovino also pleaded guilty to four counts of official misconduct, three counts of third-degree coercion and two counts of forcible touching, all misdemeanors.

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said, in exchange for his plea to each count, the court promised him a sentence of seven years in state prison, with 15 years of post-release supervision.

Agovino will also have to register as a sex offender when he's released from prison.

Rocah said her office told the court it had strong objections to the agreement because Agovino faced significantly more prison time if convicted at trial.

Prosecutors said, on two occasions in July 2019, Agovino, who was on duty as a police officer, unlawfully entered the victim's Peekskill home under the pretext that he was conducting an investigation in which she was a suspect.

During the first visit, he demanded she remove all her clothing because he wanted to conduct a body search. He then sexually abused her.

On the second visit, Agovino returned to the woman's home, threatened her with arrest unless she took off her clothes or performed a sex act on him and again sexually abused her.

Over the next five months, prosecutors said Agovino, while on duty, broke into the woman's home on three separate occasions for his own sexual gratification at the expense of the victim, and in one instance, sexually abused her.

Unbeknownst to him, during the last time in January 2020, the woman recorded their interaction and gave that to the district attorney's office.

Agovino was arrested Feb. 15, 2020, by investigators from the DA's office, following an investigation in collaboration with the City of Peekskill Police Department.

He resigned from the police department in 2021.

Rocah said Agovino disgracefully violated his oath of office and his responsibility to serve and protect the public by repeatedly abusing his authority and sexually abusing this woman.

"The victim in this case demonstrated great courage in her attempt to hold her abuser accountable during this emotionally distressing ordeal," she said, "and we hope that today's plea helps in the healing process."

Agovino is scheduled to be sentenced June 23.