25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SPRING VALLEY MAN CONVICTED IN CHRISTMASTIME 2013 HOMICIDE

DA’S PRESS RELEASE

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe on Monday announced that Juan Perez-Coira (DOB 09/07/70) of Spring Valley, New York, was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison after a bench trial that convicted him of:

Two counts of murder in the second degree, class “A” felonies

One count of attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree , a class “C” felony

One count of attempted rape in the first degree, a class “C” felony

relating to the killing of 55-year-old Deborah Burns.

“The defendant took the life of an innocent woman during a vicious sexual assault,” said District Attorney Zugibe. “I can only hope that the victim’s family finds some measure of comfort and solace knowing her attacker will be sentenced to at least 25 years [in prison] as punishment for his savagery.”

The prosecution proved that on or about and between December 24 and December 26, 2013, Perez-Coira attempted to commit the crime of rape in the first degree and attempted to commit the crime of criminal sexual act in the first degree. In the course of and in furtherance of each of those crimes and or immediate flight therefrom, Perez-Coira caused the death of Burns as a result of internal bleeding.

Perez-Coira and the victim were acquaintances and had spent the evening together before the defendant caused her death.

Executive Assistant District Attorney Dominic A. Crispino prosecuted the case.