(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of a teen accused of viciously attacking a woman inside her home while her four-year-old daughter was present. He is charged with one count of Rape in the First Degree, one count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, two counts of Assault in the First Degree, two counts Burglary in the First Degree, one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, one count of Strangulation in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
“Aside from the extreme violence of the criminal activity, what makes this case so shocking is the age of the defendant who is accused of committing such callous and violent crimes,” said Tierney. “It is becoming increasingly common to hear of violent cases like this involving minors as the perpetrators of such vicious acts. Despite this, we will make sure justice is served. Those responsible for this horrific attack on the victim and her child will be called to answer to the law and they will be held accountable.”
On April 19, 2022, at approximately 3:15 p.m., the defendant and an un-apprehended accomplice allegedly broke into a home through a kitchen window in Mastic Beach after waiting for one of its residents to drive away. While inside the house looking for items to steal, the two found a locked bedroom door and kicked it in to gain entry.
In that bedroom was a 23-year-old mother and her four-year-old daughter. The defendant took the victim’s cellphone and made her open it with the passcode. Then, as his accomplice went through the bedroom looking for property to steal, the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled the mother in front of her child. After some time, she was forced into the hallway, where the sexual assault continued.
After the sexual assault, the defendant dragged the victim back into her bedroom and attempted to pull her four-year-old daughter out of the bedroom. The victim struggled to stop him and as a result, the defendant left the child on the bed but took the victim into another bedroom where he pulled out a switchblade, showed it to her, then slashed her across her head and forehead. She was then stabbed in the left, upper-chest area. Both perpetrators fled on foot after the stabbing. The victim was treated at a local hospital where she received stitches and staples to her head and face, stitching to her chest area and additional medical treatment.
On April 21, 2022, the defendant admitted taking part in the burglary of the victim’s home while he was being interviewed on that charge by the police. The defendant also consented to provide a buccal swab. Based on the investigation and the interview with the defendant Suffolk PD charged the defendant with Burglary in the First Degree.
Subsequently, members of the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory matched the DNA profile developed from the defendant’s buccal swab to a profile developed from a swab of the victim.
The teen was indicted on April 27 and arraigned today in Suffolk County Youth Court before Judge Karen Kerr. The defendant was remanded without bail and remains in custody. His next court date is June 2.
His accomplice remains at-large and the investigation is ongoing. This case is being prosecuted by Dena Rizopoulos of the Major Crime Bureau.