KINGSTON, N.Y. — A 29-year-old Saugerties man was sentenced in Ulster County Court Friday, Dec. 3, to four years in state prison for the rape of an underaged girl.
Carl E. Beermunder Jr. was arrested on May 21, 2020, and was charged with two counts of rape and four counts of criminal sex act for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old girl with whom he was acquainted. Beermunder was 28 at the time, authorities said.
In September, he pleaded guilty to one count of rape in exchange for a sentence of four years in prison and 10 years of post-release supervision.
In court Friday, the victim said that as a result of Beermunder’s actions, her life for a time spiraled out of control.
“I had to deal with a lot of trauma,” she said in court. “I was put through a lot of issues no 15-year-old should ever go through.
“My life really isn’t the same,” she said.
“Your actions turned our lives upside down,” the teenager’s stepmother told Beermunder in court.
For his part, Beermunder apologized, saying he was aware of the wrong he had done and that he accepted the sentence Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds was to mete out.
“I truly am sorry for the actions I have performed and for the trauma I caused for the victim and her family,” he said.
Rounds said Beermunder should spend his time in prison seeking the help he needs to understand why he raped a girl half his age and how to control his behavior so that another child doesn’t become one of his victims.
Rounds commended the family for their strength in dealing with crimes and the fallout that resulted, and urged them to “find a way to get stronger.”
“For every crime such as this, there are many victims,” said Rounds. “It’s often forgotten how much they’re traumatized. I haven’t.”
