A Bellport man has been convicted of a violent armed home
invasion in Shirley during which he attacked an 18-year-old who has autism.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced the
guilty plea of Miguel Ruiz, 29, Thursday for the incident that took place on
May 7, 2021.
Ruiz, who was armed with a gun, and accomplices kicked in
the front door of the home while a family was inside sleeping.
Tierney says the family was forced to lay face down on the
floor at gunpoint while the crew rummaged through their home.
Ruiz pistol-whipped the teenager, causing lacerations to his
face, because he did not respond quick enough to commands.
“We want to make sure that no other family has to ever go
through anything like this again by holding Mr. Ruiz responsible for his
actions,” Tierney said in a release.
The group fled with a small amount of money and the
teenager’s cellphone.
Three of Ruiz’s alleged accomplices were also charged in the
burglary.
Ruiz is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in prison
followed by five years of post-release supervision on Sept. 26.