WHITE PLAINS, NY — Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced today that Christopher Welch, 32, of 45 Pleasant Street, New Rochelle, New York plead guilty to two counts of Persistent Sexual Abuse, class “E” Felonies.
On October 16, 2008, at approximately 1 p.m. the defendant was present inside the Mt. Vernon Public Library at South 2nd Avenue when he accosted a 36 year old woman by pressing his body into hers and placing his hands against her breasts.
As the victim tried to compose herself following the defendant’s assault, the defendant continued to harass her by raising his hand over his head and towards the back of her head as if to continue the assault.
When another woman came to the victim’s aid, the defendant displayed a cigarette lighter, yelled at the woman to mind her own business and flicked the flame of the cigarette lighter inches from her face.
The defendant was then ejected from the library premises.
While loitering outside, the defendant approached a 42 year old woman, reached around her body and grabbed and squeezed her buttocks.
He then fled the scene.
A description of Welch was broadcast by police and he was found in the vicinity and arrested.
At the time of these assaults, the defendant had previously been convicted of two prior misdemeanor sex offenses within the preceding ten year period.
Those convictions allowed for the current assaults to be charged as felonies.
Welch will be sentenced on February 3rd, 2009.
He faces a maximum of four years in state prison on each of the counts.
Assistant District Attorney Fredric I. Green, Chief of the Sex Crimes Bureau, prosecuted the case.