SCHENECTADY — A local man from Schenectady, with a history of sexual crime convictions, was handed a 25 years-to-life prison sentence on Tuesday for his most recent assault on an 18-year-old woman.
Arthur Pryor, aged 48, was found guilty of predatory sexual assault in November, after he forced an 18-year-old into oral sexual contact.
“You pose a threat to society,” stated Judge Catherine Leahy-Scott, a claims court judge who oversaw the case as a guest judge in Schenectady County.
In addition to the sentence, she issued a 100-year restraining order for the victim and detailed Pryor’s criminal past, which spans three decades and includes multiple felony convictions.
“In 2010, you were found guilty of a Class B felony,” Leahy-Scott noted. “You sexually assaulted a woman, and while on parole for that horrific crime, you committed another appalling act against an 18-year-old.”
The assault took place in an Albany Street residence, which functioned as a boarding house where both Pryor and the victim resided. The jury concluded that Pryor entered the victim’s room without her permission, forcibly undressed her and physically overpowered her, despite her attempts to resist.
Assistant District Attorney Maria Apruzzese, from the Special Victims Unit, also highlighted Pryor’s criminal history.
“His criminal activities never ceased,” Apruzzese stated.
Apruzzese pointed out that Pryor has a history of parole violations following his 12-year sentence for a previous sexual assault conviction in Kings County, as well as drug-related issues. He is currently facing charges for attempting to sell drugs.
The defendant waited for the victim to return home after a night out drinking and used his physical advantage to overpower her, Apruzzese added.
“The victim was profoundly impacted by that night,” Apruzzese said.
After the assault, the victim was unable to return to her home, Apruzzese noted, and she struggled to hold back tears while testifying during the trial.
Pryor’s lawyer, John Della Ratta, from the Schenectady County Public Defender’s Office, reiterated a defense he presented during the trial, claiming that Pryor ceased the attack when the victim asked him to stop. The defense also argued that the incident occurred within a brief period — approximately or less than a minute.
“This was not a prolonged, torturous event,” Della Ratta stated.
He argued that his client’s testimony during the trial was clear — he stopped when he was asked to.
“If he was the monster that the District Attorney is portraying him as, he would have continued — but he stopped,” Della Ratta said.
Leahy-Scott countered that the duration of the assault, whether it was one minute or one second, was irrelevant because he “harmed the victim.” She noted that Pryor showed no remorse for his actions and continuously tried to blame the victim, a petite 18-year-old woman who he overpowered.
The victim underwent a Sexual Assault Examination at Ellis Hospital shortly after the attack. Forensic evidence collected during the exam was sent to the New York State Forensic Investigation Center for DNA testing. The DNA results suggested a possible match with the defendant from his previous conviction. Pryor later denied any sexual contact with the victim during a police interview.
The defense argued during the trial that the parties engaged in consensual oral sexual conduct, a claim the jury dismissed based on the evidence presented. This included testimony from the victim and her family, as well as medical records and DNA results that supported the victim’s testimony.
Justice served for the safety of our community.
Finally, justice prevails. He deserves every single day of that sentence.