BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2013—A former Hyde Park resident will serve up to 25 years in state prison after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting a young relative over a period of years, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

PEDRO TORRES (D.O.B. 5/3/67) was convicted Dec. 13 of four counts of rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child. Torres had previously been tried on those offenses, but the earlier jury declared itself hopelessly deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Today, after prosecutors recommended a 25- to 30-year prison sentence, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Mary Ames sentenced Torres to a term of 18 to 25 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation upon his release. During that time, he must have no contact with the victim, the victim’s family, or any children under 16 without a parent or caregiver present. He must provide a DNA sample for the state database, must register as a sex offender, and must wear a GPS tracking device. He must also undergo any treatment deemed necessary after drug, alcohol, mental health, and sex offender evaluation.

During five days of trial, Assistant District Attorney Alissa Goldhaber introduced evidence and testimony to prove that Torres exploited his trusted position within the family to abuse the victim repeatedly between 2007 and 2009, when the victim was between the ages of 12 and 14. The victim did not disclose the abuse until Torres moved out of the family home but returned one day in 2010 to help with some household repairs.

“We can only imagine the child’s terror at seeing this man again after believing he was finally gone and the abuse was finally over,” Conley said. “This verdict and sentence must be a profound relief after all the victim has gone through, and after all the family has gone through.”

Kate Lagana was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Torres was represented by attorney Edward Wayland.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.