9 folks have been indicted in a baby intercourse trafficking case involving a teen lady discovered on a ship docked at a Lengthy Island marina following an almost monthlong disappearance.
The seven males and two ladies pleaded not responsible throughout their arraignments in Suffolk County courtroom in Riverhead on Thursday, based on Timothy Finnerty, a courtroom spokesperson. They face a spread of prices, together with youngster intercourse trafficking, kidnapping, rape and endangering the welfare of the kid, on-line courtroom information present.
Prosecutors advised the choose the defendants took benefit of a weak 14-year-old, raping her a number of occasions and advertising and marketing her for intercourse. The teenager, who shouldn’t be being named as a result of she is a minor, disappeared for about 25 days.
She was seen on surveillance video leaving her home on Lengthy Island and getting right into a automobile on Dec. 9. She was ultimately discovered by her father on a yacht docked at a marina in Islip on Jan. 3.
Amongst Thursday’s defendants was Daniel Burke, a Lengthy Island man who prosecutors say was among the many males who had intercourse with the teenager. The 63-year-old faces kidnapping, rape and different prices.
In laying out their timeline of occasions, prosecutors stated the sufferer met Burke in entrance of a deli, the place he allegedly gave her crack cocaine in change for intercourse. The identical factor occurred with 61-year-old Robert Eccleston, prosecutors stated, and 47-year-old Bunice Knight was accused of buying and selling medication for intercourse with the teenager as nicely.
Ralph Knowles, one other Lengthy Island resident, was charged with rape and different counts, based on on-line courtroom information.
Prosecutors stated in courtroom that the teenager received right into a automobile with 35-year-old Alton Harrell, not sporting a jacket or any footwear. Harrell pleaded not responsible to 11 prices, together with kidnapping and rape. Additionally accused of raping the lady was 20-year-old Kevin McDonald, who pleaded not responsible.
“My client is a 20-year-old with no record he has no affiliation with anyone else in this indictment,” stated McDonald’s legal professional, Melissa Aguanno.
The proprietor of the boat on which the lady was discovered, 64-year-old Francis Buckheit, was charged with kidnapping and rape. He allegedly advised police he beloved the lady, however his legal professional claimed his shopper believed she was 19.
“The complainant in this case was free to come and go at any point and time while she was staying on the boat. And she did come and go at free will while she was on that boat,” stated Buckheit’s legal professional, Danielle Papa.
It wasn’t simply males who allegedly victimized the lady, nevertheless. Police charged 34-year-old Elizabeth Hunter, who’s a mom herself, with youngster pornography for taking photographs of the lady to advertise prostitution. Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, faces youngster intercourse trafficking prices as nicely.
Suffolk County District Legal professional Ray Tierney didn’t deal with the open case straight, however spoke about it generally phrases.
“If we see someone who is a predator, abuser or drug dealer, they have a way of finding vulnerable people and exploiting them,” Tierney stated.
Three of accused have been remanded to the county jail Thursday, whereas the six others had their beforehand set bail elevated by the choose. Three further defendants have additionally been charged in reference to the case, however usually are not included within the preliminary indictment.
Amongst these not but arrested is a staffer at a state psychological well being facility who prosecutors say groped the lady whereas she was receiving inpatient remedy following the ordeal. He’s been charged with felony sexual contact with an individual incapable of consent and endangering the welfare of a kid.
Every of the suspects going through prices have courtroom dates scheduled for March. Each of the ladies’ dad and mom have been in courtroom on Thursday, however neither spoke with reporters.
