Troy, NY --Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly announced today that Heath Harrison, 48, of Valatie, was sentenced after his guilty plea to one count of Rape in the 1st Degree, a Class B violent felony, in violations of Section 130.35 (4).
“This conviction is the direct result of the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office working together. The consistent and diligent efforts of Sergeant Jamie Panichi and Investigator Zach Sharpe uncovered the evidence we needed to prosecute this case,” said District Attorney Donnelly.
“I would also like to thank Emily Horton of the START Childrens Center who worked directly with the victim and our office on this case. Young victims need a place where they can feel secure, talk freely and heal after their trauma, and the START Center enables them to do just that,” Donnelly added.
Harrison was sentenced to 10 years in state prison with 20 years post release supervision. He will also need to register as a sex offender. Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Botts prosecuted the case for the District Attorney’s Office.
