Father Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For Repeated Rape Of Daughter

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that a 55-year-old Central Islip man1 was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty last month to rape, incest, and other related charges, for forcibly raping and impregnating his daughter.

“It is unconscionable that a father would subject his own daughter to years of such disgusting acts of sexual violence,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our hearts go out to the victim who was extremely brave in coming forward after everything that she endured, and we will continue to provide unwavering support for her as she navigates the path to healing from this egregious crime.”

According to the investigation and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, in April 2017, the defendant forcibly raped his then 17-year-old daughter, resulting in her pregnancy. Upon realizing that the victim had become pregnant, the defendant attempted to have the victim end the pregnancy, but she refused and gave birth the following year.

The District Attorney’s Office is not naming the defendant in order to protect the identities of the victims.

In February 2018, after the victim gave birth, the defendant again forcibly raped his daughter, and continued to do so until August 2021.

On January 13, 2022, the victim contacted the police after the defendant sexually abused her again. The defendant was arrested, and an order of protection was issued in favor of the victim. On October 6, 2022, in violation of the order of protection, the defendant broke into the victim’s residence and forcibly raped her. The defendant was arrested again by law enforcement on December 17, 2022. After further investigation, paternity analysis of the child confirmed that the defendant had fathered his own grandchild.

On January 19, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty before County Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis, to all of the charges contained within the indictment:

Three counts of Rape in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;

One count of Burglary in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;

Four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Class D violent felonies;

Two counts of Incest in the Third Degree, Class E felonies;

Two counts of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, Class E felonies;

Two counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, Class A misdemeanors;

Two counts of Forcible Touching, Class A misdemeanors;

Four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A misdemeanors; and One count of Harassment in the First Degree, a Class B misdemeanor.

On April 17, 2024, Judge Wilutis sentenced the defendant to 22 years in prison, followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. He is also required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The defendant was represented by Eric Besso, Esq. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Grier of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kendall Walsh of the Grand Jury Unit, with investigative assistance from Detective Jack Balaguera of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Squad.

Campaign Funding Reports Have Been Posted Which Candidate Is Having Most Success?

Read the complete article at  STATE OF POLITCS   The money race: How much do N.Y. congressional candidates have after the first quarter of 2024? By Kevin Frey Washington, D.C. PUBLISHED 2:36 PM ET Apr. 16, 2024

Here is where the candidates stand financially: NY-1

Congressman Nick LaLota Has the most casino on handThe field has condensed in this Suffolk County district in recent weeks, with now just two main Democrats vying for the nomination. Incumbent Republican Nick LaLota has a cash-on-hand advantage at the end of the three-month period, but Democratic challenger John Avlon outraised him despite only launching his campaign halfway thru the quarter. A filing from indicted former Rep. George Santos, who says he will now be running as an independent, showed he raised no money in the recent quarter. Under newly redrawn maps, this district backed Donald Trump by 1.8% in 2020. (This is an improvement for Republicans. Under the old lines, it backed Joe Biden by 0.2% in 2020.)

Nick LaLota (R) -Nancy Goroff (D)  John Avlon (D) - George Santos (I)

Don't Fall For Pay Police Or Face Arrest Scam

The Suffolk County Police Department is warning the public about a scam during which callers purport to be from a law enforcement agency and threaten arrest if money is not sent.

Detectives have been made aware of at least two incidents during which a resident has been contacted by phone by a caller identifying themselves as the Suffolk County Police Chief of Police who says the resident either has an outstanding warrant or is in danger of having a warrant issued and payment of a fee was needed to avoid arrest. Both victims sent funds in excess of $1000 via payment apps and money wiring services.

Both victims report the scammers called from what appeared to be legitimate police department phone numbers. Scammers often use spoofing apps and other technology to falsely represent the numbers they are calling from.

Police will never demand money in lieu of arrest or other consequence. If you believe you have been the victim of this or any other scam, contact police.

County Parks Will Be Open For Solar Eclipse Viewing April 8

Suffolk County Executive Romaine Announces County Parks Open for Upcoming Solar Eclipse Viewing

County Urges Residents to Take Necessary Safety Measures

HAUPPAUGE, NY – Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced today that Suffolk County Parks will be open and available for residents to enhance their viewing experience of the upcoming solar eclipse. The rare occurrence is expected to take place on Monday, April 8 beginning at approximately 2:10 p.m. with the maximum eclipse hitting in the range of 3:15-3:30 p.m.

“Suffolk County is home to thousands of acres of pristine parkland throughout the region, providing our residents from western Suffolk to the east end with a unique and scenic opportunity to experience the upcoming solar eclipse,” said Romaine.” I encourage the public to take advantage of the various amenities our County has to offer in a safe and enjoyable manner.”

The following parks will be open free to residents with the following amenities and viewing options:

• Smith Point County Park, Shirley: offers unique spot for beachfront eclipse viewing, allowing visitors to watch from either the parking lot or while sitting in the sand along the shore. 
• Gardiner Park, Bayshore: has a large open field that is perfect for an eclipse picnic. 
• Raynor Park, Lake Ronkonkoma: offers open space by the soccer fields.
• Southaven County Park, Yaphank: access to a large ballfield that is perfect for looking skyward. 
• West Hills County Park, Huntington: has a viewing field by the picnic areas and dog park. 
• Montauk County Park, Montauk: allows residents to experience the eclipse from the Eastern most point of Suffolk County.

The region is outside the path of totality, which means that viewers will see about 90% coverage.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services reminds residents that there is no time during the eclipse when it is safe to look at the sun with the naked eye. Proper eye protection must be worn throughout the eclipse. 

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, looking at the sun without proper eye protection for even a short time can harm your eyes and risk permanently damaging your retina. Sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not enough to protect your vision if you look at the sun. Homemade filters will not protect your eyes.

To safely watch the eclipse, residents are advised to wear eclipse glasses with certified solar filters or hand-held solar viewers made by a reputable company.

In addition, do not use solar eclipse glasses to look through cameras, binoculars or telescopes – these devices concentrate the sun’s rays and damage the solar filter, allowing the sun’s rays to damage the retina. 

For a listing of reputable companies and guidance on using eclipse glasses, visit the American Astronomical Society website: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters. 

County Exec Romaine Orders County Flags Be Flown At Half-Mast

“Suffolk County continues to mourn the loss of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller. We stand united with the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe and grieve this great tragedy. On behalf of our residents, we offer our deepest condolences to Officer Diller’s loved ones and his brothers and sisters in the NYPD. 

In honor of Officer Diller, I have ordered all flags at County facilities to blow at half-mast through Monday.”

Johnathan Wright Found Guilty Of Repeatedly Burning Two Women At A Ronkonkoma Hotel

LINDENHURST MAN FOUND GUILTY AFTER JURY TRIAL OF REPEATEDLY BURNING TWO WOMEN WITH A HOT CLOTHING IRON

Johnathan Wright Faces Up to 50 Years in Prison at Sentencing

LINDENHURST MAN FOUND GUILTY AFTER JURY TRIAL OF REPEATEDLY BURNING TWO WOMEN WITH A HOT CLOTHING IRON(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Johnathan Wright, 34, of Lindenhurst, was found guilty after a jury trial of assault, witness tampering, and other related charges, for repeatedly burning two women with a hot clothing iron in a Ronkonkoma hotel room in July 2021, dissuading them from seeking medical attention for their injuries, and then attempting to have one of the victims recant her story to police after his arrest.

“The defendant subjected two women to brutal violence and then tried to hide his crimes by threatening the victims and preventing them from seeking medical attention for their wounds and even from cooperating with law enforcement,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I am thankful for and deeply admire the bravery of these women in coming forward to the police, and I commend the work of law enforcement and my prosecutors for ensuring that this defendant is finally held accountable for these horrific crimes.”

The evidence at trial established that in July 2021, Johnathan Wright was staying at a Ronkonkoma hotel for several nights with two women, one of whom suffered from mental disabilities. On July 21, 2021, Wright became enraged with the women because they fell asleep while giving him a back massage.

Wright began choking and punching the women in their faces and bodies and attempted to push the women out of the hotel window. He then ordered the women to strip naked and proceeded to tie them together with a belt. While the women were tied up, Wright took a clothing iron from the hotel bathroom, plugged it in, and began holding the hot iron to their skin, repeatedly burning them all over their bodies. Wright warned the women not to scream and threatened that the burning would get worse if they made noise. The assault continued for approximately three to four hours before Wright ordered the women into the shower while he fell asleep on the hotel bed.

The evidence further established that Wright refused to allow the victims to seek medical treatment for their burns or report the assault to police for weeks after the assault, instead treating the victims himself by placing paper towels on their injuries. It wasn’t until one of the victims returned to her home in Coram in August 2021, that the victim’s mother helped her to report the assault to police.

On August 17, 2021, Wright was arrested for the assault and held in custody on bail as he awaited trial. From the time of his incarceration in August 2021 through February 2023, Wright used a correctional facility phone line to make repeated phone calls to the victims in violation of court issued orders of protection. During the recorded phone calls, Wright attempted to bribe one of the women to recant her statement to police and threatened both victims and their families with violence should they continue to cooperate with law enforcement. Members of the Suffolk County

District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Police Department, and Suffolk County Sherriff’s Office monitored these recorded calls made by Wright and learned of his efforts to tamper with the witnesses.

On March 28, 2024, Wright was convicted of the following 46 charges after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro:

 Four counts of Assault in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;

 One count of Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the First Degree, a Class E felony;

 One count of Bribing a Witness, a Class D felony;

 One count of Tampering with a Witness in the Third Degree, a Class E felony;

 One count of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, a Class E felony;3

 Six counts of Tampering with a Witness in the Fourth Degree; Class A misdemeanors; and

 Thirty-Two counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, Class A misdemeanors.

Wright is due back in court for sentencing on April 30, 2024, and faces up to 50 years in prison. He is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Anne E. Oh of the Human Trafficking, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias Team (HEAT) Unit and Jonathan Cappiello of the Major Crimes Bureau, with assistance from paralegal Tanya Jones of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detectives Timothy Cohen and Kathleen Aspromgos of the

Suffolk County Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit with assistance from the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative Unit.

Suffolk Sheriff's Office To Hold A Female Recruitment Event March 28th

SUFFOLK SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO HOLD FEMALE RECRUITMENT EVENT

 (Yaphank, NY): In honor of Women’s History Month, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will be holding a women’s recruitment Q&A event on Thursday, March 28 at 6:00pm at the Yaphank Correctional Facility.  The event will feature presentations from female Correction, Deputy Sheriff and Civilian staff and will allow participants to ask officers and employees questions about the jobs and the unique struggles they may face being women in law enforcement. The event is a part of Suffolk Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.’s commitment to the 30x30 Initiative, a nationwide push to increase female participation in law enforcement and leadership positions to 30% by 2030. 

DEC To Host Third Annual Long Island Youth Turkey Program

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Cathy Haas today announced that a two-part, hands-on program on youth turkey hunting will be offered in April. This free event is part of the State’s Youth Turkey Program designed to introduce youth ages 12-15 to the fundamentals of turkey hunting and provide an opportunity to hunt on public lands under the guidance of an experienced mentor.  What: Long Island Youth Turkey Hunt When: Educational day Wednesday, April 17, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; hunting weekend April 20 and 21 Where: Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 340 Smith Rd, Shirley, NY 11967 Hunting times begin one hour before sunrise and go until noon. The program is limited to 20 participants and requires youth hunters to possess a Hunter Education Training Certificate, a valid Junior Hunting License for small game, and a valid turkey tag.  The Youth Turkey Program is hosted by DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement and the New York State Conservation Officers Association, with support from the DEC Hunter Education Program, National Wild Turkey Federation, and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex.  Registration for the Youth Turkey Program is open through April 10, 2024. To register, visit DEC’s Mentored Hunts online platform.  Questions about the event can be sent to Environmental Conservation Police Officer Taylor Della Rocco at taylor.dellarocco@dec.ny.gov.

Suffolk Sheriff Welcomes Newest K9 To The Ranks

 

“We are excited to welcome Hondo as our newest four-legged member of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.  Just weeks after his training he already completed a successful missing person search and we look forward to all the future investigative work he will do to keep our County safe,” said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.  

Hondo is a 1-year-old German Shepard who received 8 months of training in detecting drugs, patrolling, and searching buildings and locating missing or wanted individuals. Hondo will also do traffic patrol with the Sheriff’s Office’s DWI Unit. 

Weeks after completing his 8-month training, Hondo assisted in tracking down a missing individual in Riverhead. He was vital in helping find the missing teenager who fled on foot from the County Court complex and was shortly found behind electrical components in a wooded area in the complex. 

Hondo joins a force of two other Deputy Sheriff K-9s and three Correction Office K-9s. 

NYS DEC Announces 2024 'I BIRD NY' Challenge

I BIRD NY Encourages New Yorkers to Enjoy Birding Close to Home and on the New York State Birding Trail

photo: Smithtown resident Juan AcostaNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the start of the 2024 ‘I BIRD NY’ Challenge for birders of all ages and abilities. The challenge provides opportunities to identify birds and learn about birdlife and awards program finishers with a commemorative I BIRD NY Challenge patch and the chance to win birding equipment.   

“New York State’s wide-ranging habitat types, from the Atlantic Ocean’s sandy beaches to majestic Catskill and Adirondack peaks, Great Lakes shorelines, and everything in between, create a birder’s paradise for residents and visitors year-round,” Commissioner Seggos said. “I encourage birdwatchers to get outside and check out the 450 different bird species that call New York home.” 

New York has more than 350 Birding Trail locations and new locations are added often, making it even easier for New Yorkers to get started with this fun activity. Birdwatching is one of the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activities in the U.S. According to the 2022 National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 7.4 million wildlife watchers generated $10.8 billion in New York State in 2022. This is up from an estimated four million New York resident wildlife viewers spending more than $6.4 billion annually in 2016. 

Backyard birding, or watching birds close to home, is the most common way people engage in birding. As a birder’s skill and interest develop, there are several opportunities to contribute to scientific knowledge about birds and the natural world. Programs like eBird, New York’s Breeding Bird Atlas, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch, and the Great Backyard Bird Count rely on volunteer birders to contribute sightings to a centralized database. 

The I BIRD NY program was launched in 2017 to build on the State’s efforts to increase access to New York’s vast natural resources and promote no- and low-cost opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. The annual birding challenge saw a 745 percent increase in participation in 2023, with 1,226 birding enthusiasts completing this fun challenge. 

I BIRD NY is just one of DEC’s ongoing efforts to engage New Yorkers in nature-based activities that provide a fun opportunity for the entire family to learn about the natural world. Because people can observe birds wherever they live, work, or recreate, birding is an accessible activity that does not require transportation or the purchase of specialized equipment. Birdwatching can be enjoyed by people from all economic backgrounds and education levels. While binoculars can help, many birds can be identified without them. 

“Early spring is an exciting time to observe birds as they engage in fascinating behavior like establishing territories, finding a mate, and gathering nest materials. Others are just starting to arrive from their wintering grounds, and some will only be passing through. By staying quiet and moving slowly, you’ll maximize your chances of seeing the birds that are around you. We recommend visiting the New York State Birding Trail for its unique and accessible settings,” said Michael Burger, Executive Director, Audubon Connecticut and New York.  

“Birds are awesome!” said Maisie (10) and Sam (14), members of the WNY Young Birder Club. 

“The ‘I BIRD NY’ Challenge not only offers an inclusive and hands-on approach, but also provides a fun, low-cost way to explore the beauty in our own backyards, neighborhoods, and New York’s natural areas. By participating, people will actively contribute to a collective celebration that highlights the significance of birds in our world,” said Lauren Makeyenko, Co-Chair, Feminist Bird Club’s Buffalo Chapter.  

The 2024 I BIRD NY Challenge is open to all ages and ends on Nov. 1, 2024. To complete the Challenge, participants must identify 10 bird species of their choosing and submit a challenge sheet to DEC. Challenge sheets may be submitted online via Survey Monkey or sent via email or mail. Entries must be received by Nov. 15. Entry forms are also available in Spanish. All participants will be awarded a commemorative patch, given a completion certificate, and entered into a drawing for great birding prizes. Two youth and two adult winners will be chosen. Participants will also receive an extra prize entry for providing a photo documenting their challenge experience. As an extra bonus, the first 50 participants will receive a special goodie bag of birding swag items. 

Birding enthusiasts can visit I BIRD NY to access this year’s challenge sheet, as well as find information on where and how to watch birds, upcoming birding events, a downloadable Beginner’s Guide to Birding (also available in Spanish), and additional resources. Those interested may also opt to sign up for DEC’s monthly birding newsletter, Words of a Feather, to have birding tips and tricks, New York State Birding Trail site recommendations, events, and more delivered right to one’s inbox.  

As always, participants are encouraged to Love Our New York Lands this year by practicing Leave No Trace principles and by recreating safely and sustainably. 

https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases