A U.S. Marine is heading to prison for a number of years after he admitted to fondling a sleeping Hudson Valley college student.

On Tuesday in Ulster County Court, 20-year-old Lance Corporal Kevin Guerrero, of the United States Marines stationed in New Windsor, was sentenced to 15 years in prison following a guilty plea to burglary and sexual abuse, both violent felony offenses.

“It is especially disheartening when a member of the military who has endeavored to protect all of us, breaks the law,” Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright said. “Lance Corporal Guerrero’s actions in the early morning hours of September 4, 2016 are abhorrent and cannot be excused even by his service to this country”.

On Sept. 4, 2016, Guerrero broke into three off-campus SUNY New Paltz student’s homes and attempted to sexually assault the female students while they were asleep.

One student told New Paltz police Guerrero sexually assaulted her as she slept. When the woman woke up, Guerrero fled.

The woman provided police with a description of Guerrero. New Paltz detectives soon learned there were two other incidents where a man who matched Guerrero’s description forced his way into nearby apartments. In both cases, the intruder was spotted by residents before any further crime was committed.

Guerrero will have to register under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act.

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