9 individuals have been indicted in a toddler intercourse trafficking case involving a teen woman discovered on a ship docked at a Lengthy Island marina following a virtually monthlong disappearance.
The seven males and two girls pleaded not responsible throughout their arraignments in Suffolk County court docket in Riverhead on Thursday, in keeping with Timothy Finnerty, a court docket spokesperson. They face a spread of expenses, together with baby intercourse trafficking, kidnapping, rape and endangering the welfare of the kid, on-line court docket information present.
Prosecutors advised the decide 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 just isn’t 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 expenses.
In laying out their timeline of occasions, prosecutors mentioned 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 mentioned, and 47-year-old Bunice Knight was accused of buying and selling medication for intercourse with the teenager as effectively.
Ralph Knowles, one other Lengthy Island resident, was charged with rape and different counts, in keeping with on-line court docket information.
Prosecutors mentioned in court docket that the teenager obtained right into a automobile with 35-year-old Alton Harrell, not sporting a jacket or any footwear. Harrell pleaded not responsible to 11 expenses, together with kidnapping and rape. Additionally accused of raping the woman 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,” mentioned McDonald’s lawyer, Melissa Aguanno.
The proprietor of the boat on which the woman was discovered, 64-year-old Francis Buckheit, was charged with kidnapping and rape. He allegedly advised police he liked the woman, however his lawyer 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,” mentioned Buckheit’s lawyer, Danielle Papa.
It wasn’t simply males who allegedly victimized the woman, nonetheless. Police charged 34-year-old Elizabeth Hunter, who’s a mom herself, with baby pornography for taking pictures of the woman to advertise prostitution. Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, faces baby intercourse trafficking expenses as effectively.
Suffolk County District Legal professional Ray Tierney didn’t handle the open case immediately, however spoke about it typically 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 mentioned.
Three of accused have been remanded to the county jail Thursday, whereas the six others had their beforehand set bail elevated by the decide. Three further defendants have additionally been charged in reference to the case, however aren’t 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 woman whereas she was receiving inpatient therapy following the ordeal. He’s been charged with legal sexual contact with an individual incapable of consent and endangering the welfare of a kid.
Every of the suspects dealing with expenses have court docket dates scheduled for March. Each of the women’ mother and father have been in court docket on Thursday, however neither spoke with reporters.
