9 Lengthy Islanders have been arraigned in court docket on Thursday in connection to the horrific kidnapping and abuse of a 14-year-old lady following a scathing 75-count grand jury indictment accusing them of intercourse trafficking and rape.
Alton Harrell, 35, pleaded not responsible after officers recognized him as the important thing within the sickening abuse of Emmarae Gervasi, who was lacking for 25 days and was allegedly given medication, raped repeatedly and had her physique bought by Harrell and his accomplices, Newsday experiences.
“This defendant set the complete chain of occasions that adopted in movement by victimizing somebody he knew as a toddler,” Assistant Suffolk County District Legal professional Dana Castaldo instructed the court docket.
Harrell, who prosecutors say had a sexual relationship with the teenager going again to 2024, is charged with kidnapping and rape and faces a most sentence of life in jail.
Together with Harrell, officers additionally charged Francis Buckheit, 64, of East Islip; Daniel Burke, 63, of Bohemia; Elizabeth Hunter, 34, of Islip; Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, of Bellport; Robert Eccleston, 61, of Islip; Bunice Knight, 47, of Copiague; Kevin McDonald, 20, of Medford; and Ralph Knowles, 63, of Brentwood.
Like Harrell, the opposite eight defendants pleaded not responsible on Thursday.
Harrell is accused of choosing Gervasi up from her residence in a single day on Dec. 9 and bringing her to an deserted home in his hometown of Bellport, the place he allegedly gave her crack in alternate for intercourse.
McDonald is accused of sexually assaulting the lady at the back of his automotive 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.
Burke allegedly saved the teenager in his cellular residence for over a day, and Buckheit was recognized because the proprietor of the boat the place Gervasi was finally rescued from by her father, Frank. The 2 face the identical prices as Harrell.
Eccleston 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 boat. He’s additionally charged with second-degree kidnapping.
Whereas on the boat, a number of males allegedly raped her, with Hunter and Comiskey accused of kid intercourse trafficking.
Knight is alleged to have exchanged medication with Comiskey for intercourse with the teenager in his residence on Jan. 2. He’s being charged with third-degree felony possession of a managed substance with intent to promote.
Knowles was charged with rape and misdemeanors for sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a kid.
Police arrested three different folks concerned within the case who weren’t named within the indictment.
They embrace Daniel Soto, a 36-year-old Bay Shore man who was cuffed for second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a kid throughout Gervasi’d disappearance, and DeShaun McClean, 42, a employee who allegedly groped the teenager whereas she was at a state psychological well being facility following the kidnapping in January.
McClean is charged with two counts of felony sexual contact with an individual incapable of consent and endangering the welfare of a kid.
Rebecca Browell, 48, who shares an deal with with Knowles, was additionally arrested after promoting medication to an undercover police officer, in keeping with Newsday.
Prosecutors accuse her of supplying Gervasi with medication whereas additionally realizing she was having intercourse with grownup males.
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