Massachusetts man flees to Mexico to escape rape conviction

a man from Massachusetts He was convicted Wednesday of rape and witness intimidation after fleeing to Mexico in the middle of his trial in Berkshire County Superior Court, according to the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office.

Cesar Lagunas, 51, of Pittsfield, left the country Monday following the rape survivor’s testimony, Julia Sabourin, chief of operations for the Berkshire District Attorney, said in an email Saturday. Lagunas flew to Mexico from Albany International Airport, about a 50-minute drive from Pittsfield.

Law enforcement found the vehicle Lagunas was suspected of driving abandoned at the New York border.

Judge John Agostini said the trial could continue in Lagunas’ absence. An arrest warrant was later issued for him.

On April 15, 2019, Lagunas raped a person and threatened her with blackmail if she reported this. attack.

“The survivor showed tremendous strength and resilience throughout this process. “I am grateful for the jury’s verdict and appreciate their service,” Berkshire Prosecutor Timothy Shugrue said in a statement Friday.

The prosecutor’s office did not disclose the name of the victim, which is common in sexual assault cases. The victim’s age is also unknown. The District Attorney’s statement stated that Child Abuse Unit Chief Andrew Giarolo represented the Commonwealth at the hearing.

The Pittsfield Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, New York State Police and Homeland Security are working to locate Lagunas.

Rape convictions in Massachusetts carry a sentence of up to 20 years in state prison. The penalty for intimidating a witness is up to 10 years in prison.

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