The age of the crime does not make it any easier to fathom.

The man standing before the judge fled the country five years ago. His victim might have also wanted to run off and hide, but this was simply impossible.

At the time, the man and little girl lived near each other. They shared a similar heritage, but their ages created a chasm.

In 2001, he was 21 and she was 11.

He forced himself upon her. And once complete, threatened her to be silent.

The girl could not or did not keep that secret, and when word escaped so did the rapist.

He made a hasty departure to the Dominican Republic where he stayed until he felt an appropriate amount of time had passed.

He did not wait long enough.

Upon his return to New York City, old habits and impulses took hold and in a matter of months, he was arrested three times.

With paperwork moving at its own speed, it took the three arrests before the old rape caught up with him and for justice to be served.