Auburn man sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting teen

AUBURN — An Auburn man convicted by a Cayuga County Court jury of sexually assaulting a teenager will receive more than a decade in prison.

Gerald R. Hoffman, 49, was sentenced by Judge Thomas Leone on Thursday to 15 years in state prison followed by 15 years of post-release supervision for first-degree attempted rape (a class C felony) for forcibly sexually assaulting a female 17-year-old in September 2023. He was also sentenced to seven years in prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision for first-degree sexual abuse (a class D felony). Both sentences are the maximum allowed by law, and they will run concurrently.

Hoffman was found guilty by a jury after a three-day trial in May .

Rome Canzano, Hoffman's attorney, said in court Thursday that he had filed a motion to set aside the verdict or stay the sentence pending the filing of an appeal, citing issues with evidence used in the trial. Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci argued against that, saying the evidence was "overwhelming." She also noted Hoffman's accuser testified during the trial.

Leone denied the motion. When he announced the sentence, he agreed with Grome Antonacci that the evidence was "overwhelming."

"I sat through that trial. If it was a bench trial, I would have found you guilty, too," the judge said.

When asked if he wanted to say anything, Hoffman insisted he was not guilty.

"I didn't do it," he said.

Canzano told The Citizen after court he would be filing an appeal.

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or . Love Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.

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