THE BRONX — The man who raped a 51-year-old woman on Christmas morning in 2014 blamed drug abuse for his crime.
At a hearing Tuesday, Bronxite José Roys, who spoke at his sentencing through a Spanish interpreter, apologized for his crime and said that his drug use had led him to commit the crime.
He stressed that he had a clean record and had never hurt anyone in his life before the incident on Christmas.
"I should stay away from drugs," he said. "That is what caused this."
In 2014, Roys struck up a conversation with his victim around 6:20 a.m. by Boston Road and Pelham Parkway before punching her in the face, dragging her to a secluded area and raping her, police said.
Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Martin said the attack has left Roys' victim deeply traumatized and rendered her unable to work or leave the house for several months after the crime.
"No words said to the defendant can adequately express how greatly detrimental his acts have been upon the entire family," she said.
The victim has worked with a therapist to help deal with her trauma, and the entire family is still reeling from the aftermath of the attack, according to Martin.
"Based upon his actions, their lives will never be the same," she said. "They have nothing to say to him."
Roys was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He had faced up to 25 years but received a lighter sentence after pleading guilty to first degree rape, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
