Cold Case Closed

New London Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford didn’t mince words today when he sentenced convicted rapist John Moniz, 47, of Norwich to 10 years in prison and 15 years of special parole. “I think you are an extremely dangerous predator,” Clifford said.

In April, Moniz pled guilty to first-degree sexual assault and first-degree kidnapping in the 2002 abduction and rape of a New London woman. According to prosecutor Lawrence J. Tytla, Moniz approached the victim as she was leaving for work in the morning. Saying he had a gun, Moniz pushed the victim into the backseat of her car and drove her to another parking lot in New London, where he sexually assaulted her. Moniz then drove to New York and raped the victim again before driving her back to New London.

The victim reported the attack to New London police on March 28, 2002. About a month later, Moniz was arrested in Groton after another woman fought him off during an attempted abduction. Moniz served six years for first degree unlawful restraint as a result of the Groton attack. He was arrested by New London police just last year for the 2002 assault in New London after the state forensic laboratory matched Moniz’s DNA to samples taken from the New London victim and her car.

Moniz pled guilty under the Alford Doctrine, which means he recognizes the state has enough evidence to convict him but does not admit guilt. Under a plea agreement, Moniz was sentenced to 10 years to be followed by 10 years of special parole for the sexual assault and to 10 years followed by 15 years special parole for the kidnapping. As the sentences are to be served concurrently, Moniz will serve 10 years in prison then be placed on special parole for 15 years.

The difference between special parole and probation, Clifford explained, is that should Moniz violate special parole, the Department of Corrections is empowered to send him directly back to prison to serve out whatever parole time remains behind bars. If Moniz was to violate special parole after a year, for instance, he could be sent back to prison for the remaining 14 years.

Had Moniz been convicted at trial, however, he would have faced a tougher sentence. In her presentencing letter to the court, the victim wrote that she wished his sentence were longer.

“This is a horrific sexual assault and it’s not a common scenario,” said Clifford, noting that in most rape cases, the victim knows the assailant whereas Moniz preyed upon someone who was a stranger to him. In light of the fact that Moniz had been arrested previously in Alabama for a crime that was “remarkably similar” to the New London kidnapping and assault, Clifford described Moniz as “an extremely dangerous person” who “should be monitored very closely.”  

With that in mind, Clifford recommended that after serving his sentence, Moniz be required to wear an electronic tracking device. Moniz will also be required to register for life as a sex offender and was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

The victim appeared in court today looking visibly shaken but declined to make a statement at sentencing beyond the letter she had sent. Asked if he had anything to say to the court, Moniz said only “No, your honor.”