45 YEAR OLD BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF HIS 11 YEAR OLD NEIGHBOR

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 45 year old Clarence Moss has been convicted of murder and sexual abuse in the death of an 11 year old girl.

Moss, of 3225 Olinville Avenue, the Bronx was found guilty of Murder in the 1st degree and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the 1st degree following two and a half days of deliberations.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Skloot Bamberger set sentencing for Monday, October 28, 2002 in Trial Part 1. Moss is facing a maximum term of life without the possibility of parole.

District Attorney Johnson said: "No family should have to experience what Tamiqua Guittierrez’s family has gone through. The defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This punishment will protect society from any further predatory conduct by him. He will never escape awareness of the horrible things that he did to an innocent child. It’s something he’ll have to live with each day of his life."

The murder occurred in Moss’ apartment where Tamiqua Guittierrez was sexually abused and suffocated on May 8, 2001. The victim’s body was discovered on the landing of the sixth floor stairwell leading to the roof. There was a trail of vomit from the little girl’s body to the front door of the defendant’s apartment. The victim’s vomit was also found on the defendant’s pants and on a pillow case in his bedroom.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alvin Yearwood, Trial Counsel to the Domestic Violence / Sex Offense Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Gemma Waananen of the Domestic Violence / Sex Offense Bureau.