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Kemal Banatte, of Amherst, was sentenced to six to seven behind bars after he pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape of a child, one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, and one count of witness intimidation, the Northwestern District Attorney said.
Banatte admitted to raping a child he knew multiple times from 2015 until 2019 when she was 12 and 15 years old. The victim reported the abuse to police in 2022. Their relationship was not disclosed to protect the victim's identity.
Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington praised the victim for their bravery in confronting their accuser.
The survivor showed tremendous strength coming forward and reporting the sexual assaults to the police. Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to report these crimes to their local police departments or the Northwestern District Attorney’s office.
Banatte must also serve five years probation, pay restitution to the victim, provide a DNA sample as a convicted felony, and register as a sex offender, the prosecutor said.
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