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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , March 14 , 2018
Cab driver pleads guilty to two counts of rape in the First Degree
Orange County District Attorney David M . Hoovler announced that on Monday , March 12 , Javier Alexander Vilchez Salazar , 34 , of New Windsor , pleaded guilty before Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown to two counts of Rape in the First Degree , for raping two young women he had picked up as fares when he was driving a cab by bars and nightclubs on the waterfront in the City of Newburgh , in September and November of 2017 .
At the time Vilchez Salazar Salazar pleaded guilty , he admitted that on November 12 , 2017 , he was driving a cab by the waterfront in Newburgh when he picked up a young woman who was looking for a cab to take her home . Vilchez Salazar admitted driving her to the vicinity of Lake Street in the Town of New Windsor and engaging in sexual intercourse with her by forcible compulsion . Vilchez Salazar also admitted that on September 3 , 2017 , he picked up a different young woman by the waterfront in Newburgh , who similarly was looking for a cab to take her home . Vilchez Salazar admitted driving the woman to the vicinity of Lake Street in New Windsor and engaging in sexual intercourse with her by forcible compulsion .
At the time Vilchez Salazar pleaded guilty , the District Attorney ’ s Office stated that it would be recommending that he be sentenced to twenty-one years in state prison and ten years post-release supervision when he is sentenced on May 3 , 2018 .
Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department , the Town of New Windsor Police Department , the New York State Police and an Orange
County District Attorney ’ s Office Investigator for the investigation of the case . Vilchez Salazar was arrested on November 25 , 2017 , by the City of Newburgh Police Department .
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kerry Kolek .
“ I commend the police officers whose investigation stopped this defendant from continuing these heinous predatory attacks on unsuspecting women who were merely trying to get home safely ,” said Hoovler . “ The bravery and tenacity of the survivors of these attacks in coming forward and cooperating with law enforcement is to be admired , and was indispensable to the successful prosecution of this case . As stated in court , we will be seeking a sentence of twenty-one years in state prison when this defendant is sentenced .”
Residents express support for Alembic project
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people that aren ’ t fortunate .”
Community activist Joe Alvarez complained that “ there are lot of people like myself that don ’ t have a lot of money , that work very hard ,” he said . “ I ’ ve got to come home to a hole in the wall .” He continued , “ All these people opposing all these projects that are coming up ( to meet ) the needs of the people of this city … do they have anybody that ’ s going to buy this property and develop it without tax cuts ?”
“ They shut down the Mid Broadway Project ,” he said angrily , speaking about the beleaguered Mid Broadway Project , which would have seen 91 units of affordable
City residents lobby at Newburgh City Hall to allow Alembic ’ s proposed housing and development project to move forward .
housing constructed on Broadway between Johnston and Lander streets had it not been stalled due to a reverter clause that has yet to be removed by the Newburgh Housing Authority and a lawsuit filed by city residents in 2014 .
“ You moved up here because you couldn ’ t afford to live in Brooklyn ,” he said , not appearing to speak to anyone in particular . Dorice Barnwell highlighted the fact that many people continue to live in poverty in the city . According to the U . S . Census Bureau , 33 percent of people lived at or below the federal poverty line as of 2016 . “ There is a big need in the city and we need to stand up together and work together ,” Alvarez insisted . “ Just continue with the process , see where it goes ,” said building owner Patrick Cousins . “ Hopefully it makes everybody happy .”
The project ’ s timeline calls for information gathering through public meetings to be held through April . According to timeline provided for the project , said city Director of Planning and Development Deirdre Glenn , budget information for the project will be made available by the developer in May .
“ There is no way we ’ ll be close to voting on this in May ,” said city Councilman Jonathan Jacobson . “ Once there is a definite plan that is presented , I think it then has to go back to the public .” Jacobson quipped , “ There were no answers ” provided at the last public meeting held by Alembic partner Hester Street in February .
“ The Alembic discussion obviously will continue ,” said city Corporation Counsel Michelle Kelson . “ None of those agreements have been finalized or signed or approved . We continue to work through the process .”