A scathing 75-count grand jury indictment has been handed right down to 9 folks tied to the alleged kidnapping of 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi, a Lengthy Island lady who vanished for 25 days.
The sickening court docket paperwork allege the 9 performed roles in abusing the Patchogue teen throughout an evil intercourse trafficking scheme earlier than her father rescued her from a docked boat on an Islip pier final month, Newsday reported.
Alton Harrell, 35, allegedly picked up Emma from her house in a single day on Dec. 9 and introduced her to an deserted home in his hometown of Bellport. He’s reportedly charged with first-degree kidnapping and faces as much as life in jail.
Medford man Kevin McDonald, 20, is accused of sexually assaulting the lady at the back of his automobile after which taking her to a Bohemia motel after leaving Harrell’s home.
He’s charged with rape and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a kid.
Daniel Burke, 63, of Bohemia, who allegedly saved the teenager in his cellular house for over a day, and boat proprietor Francis Buckheit, 64, of East Islip, additionally face first-degree kidnapping expenses. They, together with Harrell, face lesser second-degree kidnapping, which may nonetheless put the accused away for 25 years.
One other man, Robert Eccleston, 61, of Islip, allegedly saved and raped the lady in a indifferent rubbish container between Dec. 10 and Dec. 13 earlier than she was introduced on board the 56-foot vessel. He’s additionally charged with second-degree kidnapping.
Gervasi was allegedly trafficked onto the boat in Islip’s White Cap Marina — a canal inlet road near the key roadway Montauk Freeway — on Dec. 13.
Whereas there, a number of males allegedly raped her, and two ladies additionally offered her physique in change for medicine, per Newsday.
Buckheit, Burke, and 34-year-old Elizabeth Hunter of Islip are all charged with utilizing a toddler in a sexual efficiency.
Hunter and alleged confederate Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, of Bellport, are being charged with selling prostitution along with little one intercourse trafficking, which Buckheit can also be charged with.
Buckheit had allegedly instructed Emma he was planning to take her to the Carolinas, in keeping with stories.
Copiage man Bunice Knight, 47, is alleged to have exchanged medicine with Comiskey for intercourse with the teenager in his house on Jan. 2, simply earlier than her father, Frank Gervasi, singlehandedly rescued her the following day after an nameless tip.
Knight is charged with third-degree legal possession of a managed substance with intent to promote, which carries a penalty of as much as 25 years. He and Harrell have been additionally introduced up on patronizing prostitution.
One other older man, Ralph Knowles, 63, of Brentwood, has been charged with rape and misdemeanors for sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a kid.
Every of the seven males named within the indictment has additionally been charged with second-degree rape. All 9 defendants are due in Riverhead’s Suffolk Supreme Court docket on Thursday.
Three others not named within the indictment have additionally been arrested within the Gervasi case.
They embody Daniel Soto, a 36-year-old Bay Shore man who was cuffed for second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a kid throughout her disappearance, and DeShaun McClean, 42, a employee who allegedly groped the lady whereas she was at a state psychological well being facility following the kidnapping in January.
He’s charged with two counts of legal sexual contact with an individual incapable of consent and endangering the welfare of a kid. Rebecca Browell, 48, who shares an handle with Knowles, was additionally arrested after promoting medicine to an undercover police officer, in keeping with Newsday.
Prosecutors accuse her of supplying Gervasi with medicine whereas additionally realizing she was having intercourse with grownup males.
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