KINGSTON, NY – On December 6, 2024, Carlos Fernando Pinola Pop, age 41, of Kingston, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in State Prison for his August 15, 2024 conviction of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D violent felony, before the Honorable James Farrell. The conviction requires mandatory registration with the New York State Sex Offender Registry; he may also be subjected to deportation proceedings by the Federal Government under Federal law.
On September 25, 2023, Pinola Pop subjected a seven-year-old child to sexual contact by placing his hands and penis on her vagina. The child victim told her mother, who informed a third-party community member. The third-party contacted the police and the defendant was arrested by the Kingston Police Department on October 13, 2023. The defendant admitted this sexual contact to the Kingston Police Department and later admitted his guilt during his plea in open court.
During a subsequent interview with the Ulster County Probation Department, Pinola Pop failed to take accountability for his actions and stated that he only accidentally touched the victim. His false statement to Probation resulted in the Court imposing a higher sentence than the one originally agreed-upon.
“Crimes against children are the most heinous offenses committed in Ulster County. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to report sex offenses, let alone a seven-year-old little girl. I commend her bravery, and I am glad our office was successful in finding her the justice she deserved. I thank the Kingston Police Department for the continued dedication in their work with Special Victims Bureau cases and investigations,” said Special Victims Bureau Chief Jenna Hastings.
“Ulster County DA’s Special Victims & Intimate Partner Violence team is specifically dedicated to the aggressive prosecution of these cases, and works with our local law enforcement agencies who investigate and arrest such offenders. The community’s role in ‘see something, say something’ is integral in the effort to protect children. These crimes cause lasting and permanent damage to the victim, the victim’s family, and degrade the sense of safety and security for all of us. This Office will continue to ensure these cases are handled with the care and attention needed in these difficult and challenging cases,” said District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji.
This case was prosecuted by Bureau Chief Hastings. The defendant was represented by Richard Berube of the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.
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If you or a loved one are experiencing sexual or domestic violence, please call Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program at (845) 340-3443, or 911 if you are in immediate danger.
