July 7, 2026 – Springfield, Massachusetts – Anatoliy Kuzmenko, 73, of Chicopee, was sentenced on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chicopee District Court after a jury found him guilty on one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

Kuzmenko was sentenced to two and a half years in the House of Correction. He will serve two years committed, followed by three years of probation. The remaining six months of his sentence were suspended, meaning they may be imposed if he violates the conditions of his probation. As part of his sentence, Kuzmenko is also required to register as a sex offender and is prohibited from having contact with non-familial minors while on probation.

In May 2024, three victims (all siblings) went to the Chicopee Police Department to report sexual assaults that had occurred in 2001. The defendant, who was the landlord and neighbor living in the duplex attached to where the victims lived, was close to their family. Kuzmenko’s children were especially close friends to the three victims and often spent time in each other’s homes.

The victims were 5, 7, and 9 at the time of the assaults, which occurred in the defendant’s home.  

All three victims, now in their early 30s and all living out of state, were present to testify at the trial.

The defendant was charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. After a three-day jury trial, the defendant was ultimately found guilty on one of the three charges, which pertained to the youngest victim, who was 5 years old at the time of the assault. The victim provided a powerful impact statement at the trial.

“This guilty verdict not only holds the defendant accountable for his actions, but also recognizes the extraordinary courage of the victims who came forward and testified all these years later,” said Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “I commend the work of my team, especially ADA Meghan Tessitore, for their outstanding work and unwavering commitment throughout this case.”

The Commonwealth was represented by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Tessitore and Victim Witness Advocate Maggie Klassanos.