A 45-year-old man admitted today to raping two women and attempting to sexually assault a third woman in 2012.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes announced that today that Rafael Velez pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault for attacks that occurred in June, September and October of 2012.
On June 5, 2012, Velez tried to sexually assault an 18-year-old woman after luring her to an abandoned building near Market Street. However, she was able to escape.
On Sept. 14, 2012, Velez armed with a pair of scissors forced a 19-year-old woman to an abandoned building near Market Street where he sexually assaulted her.
A little less than a month later (October 1),Velez threatened a 20-year-old woman with a knife taking her to an abandoned building near Market Street where he sexually assaulted her.
Velez will have to serve 30 years in state prison and serve at least 85-percent of his sentence before he's eligible for parole., according to plea agreement.
Velez will be placed on parole supervision for life and will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law once he's released.
His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20.