Albany Police say Bonilla tried to abduct 16-year-old girl

Harry Bonilla

A Guilderland man charged this week for attempted kidnapping has been convicted twice before of crimes against children.

Harry Bonilla, 32, of 212 Schoolhouse Road — a parolee and Level 3 violent sex offender — was arrested on Dec. 12 by Albany Police, who say he tried to abduct a 16-year-old girl from an Albany street.

According to Steve Smith, spokesman for the Albany Police Department, the incident occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at about 7:30 p.m.

Smith described events unfolding this way: A 16-year-old girl was walking on the sidewalk on Robin Street, heading toward Sheridan Avenue, when Bonilla pulled up in a sport-utility vehicle, got out and came over to her, and began talking to her. The teen refused to engage him in conversation and walked away.

At that point, Bonilla allegedly grabbed her by the wrist and tried to pull her toward his SUV. She was able to fight him off and break free, although during the struggle he struck her in the mouth, causing a laceration. She quickly called police from a location on Sheridan Avenue.

Bonilla was identified through an investigation by the Albany Police Department, assisted by the Guilderland Police, Smith said, declining to give further details about what led them to Bonilla.

Bonilla was charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping, third-degree assault, third-degree sex abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Albany Police.

He was arraigned in the Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to Albany County’s jail, where, according to online records, he remains.

Barilla is listed on the New York State Sex Offender Registry as a violent sex offender; he is classified as Level 3, which is the most dangerous level, denoting a “high risk of repeat offense” from whom “a threat to public safety exists,” according to the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Two prior offenses

Bonilla has been convicted twice before of crimes against children, both involving the use of force, according to the state’s sex offender registry.

In 2009, he was convicted of kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment for an incident involving a 15-year-old girl who was known to him; in that attack, he used a blunt object, the sex offender registry says, adding that Bonilla hit the victim with his hand or fist or a club. He was sentenced to 5 years in state prison.

In 2016, he was convicted of second-degree attempted course of sexual conduct against a child; the victim was a 13-year-old girl who was known to him, according to the registry. Force was used, the registry says, noting that Bonilla “immediately and physically overpowered” the victim. He was sentenced to 30 months in state prison.

Bonilla was released from prison on parole in May, according to Smith and the website of the New York State Department of Corrections.

 

Tags:

More Guilderland News

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.