Watervliet man gets 7 years in prison for sexually assaulting 3-year-old child
A Watervliet man was sentenced on Friday to 7 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 3-year-old.
Fred Rafferty, 57, pleaded guilty in Albany County Court in may to one count of attempted criminal sex act. Prosecutors say that in February 2022, while in the area of 24th Street in Watervliet, Rafferty engaged in sexual conduct with the child.
In addition to the sentence, Judge Andra Ackerman issued no-contact orders of protection on behalf of the victims and ordered 10 years of post-release supervision.
Ackerman said she wanted to sentence him to more time, but the plea agreement was offered to spare the child from having to testify at trial.
“I have received letters from your family, but they do nothing before this court to reduce your sentence … the trauma that happened to this child is likely so much more than your plea acknowledges,” she said in a news release.
Assistant District Attorney Caroline Murray, the Chief of the Special Victims Unit, and Trial Assistant Ashley Rizzo handled the prosecution of this case.