HERNANDO COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – A man was sentenced to life in prison for a sexual battery incident that happened over a decade ago.

According to the State Attorney’s Office (SAO), they say 45-year-old Andy Raul Carrillo was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for a crime he committed on July 11, 2011.

“This conviction sends a clear message that perpetrators of such despicable acts will face the full force of the law, regardless of how much time has passed,” stated Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Our office commends the courage and resilience of the survivors who bravely testified to ensure that Carrillo was held accountable for his crimes.”

Authorities say the case involving Carrillo went unsolved for almost nine years until DNA linked Carrillo to the case.

The SAO says the victim had just left a party and was walking home when she was offered a ride by Carrillo, whom she didn’t know. Authorities say instead of making sure the victim got home safely, he subjected her to a “terrifying ordeal” and sexually battered and assaulted the victim on the side of the road. SAO says the victim’s injuries were so severe that she had to be airlifted to a trauma center for treatment.

Detectives say they were able to solve the case when Carrillo’s DNA was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) after another aggravated battery incident happened in Tampa just 30 days after the one in Hernando County.

They say Carrillo was linked to both cases after the victim’s sexual assault exam revealed a “chilling pattern.”

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The SAO says detectives from both the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office worked to piece evidence together. They say both cases shared “striking” similarities with both of the victims being targeted while walking alone late at night. Both were then subjected to brutal assaults and left in isolated areas.

“Carrillo’s attempts to evade accountability were futile as overwhelming evidence, including testimony from the victims, detectives, medical professionals, and other witnesses, ensured that justice was served,” shared the SAO in a Facebook post. “Despite the absence of some key figures from the original investigation, the collective effort of law enforcement agencies and dedicated professionals led to a successful prosecution.”