'I DID rape teacher at gunpoint': Perverted ex-cop FINALLY admits crime in plea deal
Disgraced former police officer Michael Pena has pleaded guilty to raping a teacher at gunpoint - three months after a hung-jury in New York failed to convict him.
Wearing an orange prison shirt and pants in the Manhattan court, Pena, 28, mumbled 'yes' when asked if he was admitting to two counts of rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault for the vicious attack on a then 24-year-old teacher in August 2011 who was walking to her first day of work.
Agreeing to a plea-bargain, Pena will get a 10-year-to-life sentence in addition to the 75-year to life punishment he received in May for sexually assaulting the young woman in the Inwood neighbourhood of New York City.
Scroll Down for Video
Michael Pena in a photograph from a previous court appearance during his trial for the rape and sexual assault of a 24-year-old teacher walking to her first day of work
Michael Pena in a photograph from a previous court appearance during his trial for the rape and sexual assault of a 24-year-old teacher walking to her first day of work
The deal will 'spare the complaining witness... of having to come to court and testify in retrial,' said Manhattan Supreme Court Justic Richard Carruthers.
The victim was in court today dressed in a smart, cream-coloured sleeveless dress and stared down the man who left her 'shattered' by the daylight assault.
More...
'My life has been shattered': Teacher, 24, sobs in court as NYPD officer jailed for life after sexual assault at gunpoint
'I still love him': Fiancée vows to stand by 'rape' cop accused of attacking and assaulting young teacher
Drunken police officer says he didn't rape teacher, but he was 'cheating on his girlfriend'
Her parents were either side of her and the young lady's mother broke down when Pena, who was three years into his NYPD service, admitted to raping her daughter.
'This plea spares the victim from testifying again about the crimes committed against her, and it is my hope this resolution brings a brave young teacher a measure of justice and closure,' said Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr to the New York Daily News.
Former New York City Police Officer Michael Pena, 28, admitted to raping a teacher in Inwood today, three months after a hung-jury failed to convict him for the crime
Former New York City Police Officer Michael Pena, 28, admitted to raping a teacher in Inwood today, three months after a hung-jury failed to convict him for the crime
Ex- New York Police Department Officer Michael Pena, who has admitted raping a school teacher in the Inwood section of Manhattan in 2011, is brought into a Manhattan Supreme Court for the start of his trial during which he denied the charge.
Ex- New York Police Department Officer Michael Pena, who has admitted raping a school teacher in the Inwood section of Manhattan in 2011, is brought into a Manhattan Supreme Court for the start of his trial during which he denied the charge.
However, Pena's attorney Ephraim Savitt declared that this plea deal was a positive step for Pena and that he hopes that this will lead to an early release for the former member of New York's Finest.
Pena's 75-year sentence for the sexual assault conviction had virtually guaranteed he would die in prison, so a guilty plea for the rape seemed irrelevant.
'My client is never getting out of prison whether he pleads guilty or not because of the 75-year sentence,' said Savitt to the New York Post.
But now turning their attention to appealing the lengthy sexual assault sentence, Savitt hopes 'to bring it down to a normal range as opposed to an astronomical range.' raising the prospect of Pena walking the streets again one day.
On her way to her first day of work on August 19, 2011, the woman was expecting to start at a Bronx charter school as a teacher when she was abducted and raped at gunpoint in an alley by Pena, who screamed to her that he was going to 'blow your f***ing face off.'
Despite the jury in March convicting Pena of oral and anal sodomy, two jurors would not find him guilty of two counts of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.
Their reasoning was if she couldn't recall the colour of a car directly opposite the alley, then how could she be sure she was penetrated during the attack.
Park Terrace West & 217th Street, near to where Michael Pena raped and sexually assaulted a 24-year-old woman
d
Park Terrace West & 217th Street, near to where Michael Pena raped and sexually assaulted a 24-year-old woman
However, the 75-year-to-life sentence left her satisfied and the failure to convict on the rape counts would not have mattered to his sentence or to her.
Now 25-years-old, the victim has said she is still traumatised by the incident in which Pena used his city-issued police gun during the attack.
'Michael Pena took responsibility for his violent criminal actions and will serve up to life in prison,' said Vance.
At Pena's sentencing in May, the woman told the court that, 'My life has been shattered - my sense of security, my sense of safety, any and all independence. He used his weapon and basically destructed my life.'
Michael Pena will spend a minimum of 75 years to life in prison for the attack on the school teacher
Michael Pena will spend a minimum of 75 years to life in prison for the attack on the school teacher
After the hung jury decision outraged New York City, key witnesses came forward to express their disappointment with the jury.
'I know what I saw,' said Amy Bishop to the New York Daily News.
'Perfect cases are only on ‘Law & Order.
'In the real world, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.'
Calling 911 twice to report the incident, the court was played the transcripts of that call.
'Hi, there appears to be sex going on that is not consensual in the backyard of the house. . . . It’s rather disgusting,' Bishop told one 911 dispatcher.
The alleyway in which Michael Pena attacked the 24-year-old school teacher in Inwood, New York City
The alleyway in which Michael Pena attacked the 24-year-old school teacher in Inwood, New York City
Despite a doctor giving evidence in court that the victim was raped and the fact that semen was found on her underwear, Pena initially benefited from the hung jury.
'I’m deeply sorry for my conduct last August and the pain it caused,' said Pena when sentenced on May 7.
'I deserve my punishment,' he said. 'I will always carry the shame and burden of my actions. I have no explanation for what happened that day.'
Joining the police force in 2008, Pena was engaged to be married at the time of the attack to Alma Rodriguez and is reportedly still engaged to her.
