Judge Gives Fern Street Rapist 18-Year Sentence

The man charged in the early-morning October 2010 rape of a jogger on Fern Street received an 18-year prison sentence Thursday afternoon, under terms agreed to in a plea deal negotiated two weeks ago.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was at the sentencing for Eddie Monroig-Rosario, accompanied by family, friends, and more than a dozen representatives of the running community who objected to the "leniency" of the sentence. The victim had earlier referred to the plea deal as “a slap on his wrist and a slap in her face.”

However, Judge Joan K. Alexander, who handed down the sentence, indicated that "she understood the victim's opposition to the plea agreement and factored that into her construction of the sentence," according to a story in the Hartford Courant. 

According to the Courant, the judge also clarified that although Monroig-Rosario has already served two years in prison on unrelated burglary charges, that time served would not count toward the sentence he received for the rape. That 18-year sentence began Thursday, the Courant reported.

Steph Blozy, owner of Fleet Feet Sports in West Hartford, galvanized the running community's support of the victim and attended the sentencing. "It was an emotionally draining day and while the plea bargain stands, there was some clarity and closure for the case," Blozy said in an email. 

Blozy said that she believes the judge "acknowledged the strength and courage of the victim and applauded the support of the community."  

The judge explained her reasoning for accepting the plea, Blozy said, and told the victim's supporters that in some recent rape cases that have gone to trial, the accused rapist has been found not guilty despite the presence of DNA evidence. Monroig-Rosario was linked to the Fern Street rape through DNA evidence.

The sexual assault conviction will also extend by 10 years the length of time Monroig-Rosario must serve before he can be considered for parole, according to the Courant. He will also become a registered sex offender which will brand him for life, and be subject to seven years of strict control once he is released on parole. 

"So while it’s not exactly what we wanted, it does guarantee that the rapist will be behind bars … and for longer than we had originally understood," Blozy said.