ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that Rigoberto Lopez Castro, 26 of Spring Valley, New York was convicted of three violent felonies following a two-week jury trial before the Honorable Kevin J. Russo, stemming from criminal acts committed by the defendant on two consecutive nights in 2022 in the Village of Spring Valley.

On September 12, 2022, the defendant forcibly raped the victim, a female previously known to the defendant. The defendant held a belt to the victim’s neck and hit her multiple times. On the following night, September 13, 2022, the defendant unlawfully broke into the victim’s home and locked bedroom, and he again forcibly raped her. He put his hands around her neck and hit her repeatedly. As a result of these attacks, the victim suffered significant pain and sustained multiple bruises about her body and a ligature mark on her neck. She received treatment at a local hospital.

Rigoberto Lopez Castro was convicted on the following charges:

• 1 count of Rape in the First Degree (Penal Law §130.35(1)) (B Felony)
• 1 count of Rape in the First Degree (Penal Law §130.35(1)) (B Felony)
• 1 count of Burglary in the First Degree (Penal Law §140.30(1)) (B Felony)

District Attorney Tom Walsh said, “This conviction reaffirms my commitment to holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable for their actions. I commend the investigation by our partners in law enforcement and the excellent prosecution by lead counsel Senior Assistant District Attorney McNiff and Executive Assistant District Attorney Guccione. No individual should ever be held against their will or be the victim of sexual abuse, the defendant in this case will now be facing a lengthy prison term at sentencing.”

The defendant is scheduled for sentencing on June 4, 2024 and faces up to 25 years in state prison on each count. The defendant is currently incarcerated in the Rockland County Jail, where he has been held since his arraignment on these charges.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Emily McNiff and Executive Assistant District Attorney Tina Guccione prosecuted the case.