Boy, 16, Charged In 2 Sex Attacks In Valley Stream
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 16-year-old boy stood charged Sunday evening in connection with the rape of a 60-year-old woman in a Valley Stream Park, as well as a violent attack on a pregnant woman.
Nashane Peterkin, of Springfield Gardens, Queens, was arrested Sunday morning in Howard Beach and charged as an adult with attempted sexual abuse, police said. He was also expected to be charged by state authorities with rape, assault, and strangulation.
Nassau County police told 1010 WINS Peterkin is suspected in an attack a week ago Sunday in Valley Stream State Park. The 60-year-old victim was out alone on an exercise walk along a path when she was attacked, police said.
Boy, 16, Charged In 2 Sex Attacks In Valley Stream
"She's walking on the trail, sees the suspect and the incident occurs pretty much immediately," said New York State Park Police Chief Richard O'Donnell.
Police alleged Peterkin was also the suspect who attacked a 30-year-old woman who was seven months pregnant, as she walked south on Mill Road in Valley Stream on Aug. 12. He allegedly rode a bicycle up to the woman and grabbed her buttocks from behind, police said.
The woman ran west on Jedwood Place to escape the suspect, but he caught up with her, pushed her to the ground, and punched her in the face, police said. The suspect then tried to rip off the victim's shirt and pin her to the ground, police said.
The woman was able to escape, and was treated at an area hospital for scrapes and cuts to her arms and legs, police said. The suspect rode off on his bicycle, police said.
The victim's husband said at the time that he wanted swift justice.
"I found her on the floor. She was bleeding, and I took her to the hospital," the husband told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "During the attack, she said, 'I'm pregnant,' and he didn't care or hold any remorse or stop."
Investigators said a suspect with the same description also attacked a 58-year-old woman outside her home in Lynbrook and began punching her. He then pushed her inside and tried to rip off her clothes, police said.
As of Sunday night, no charges had been issued against Peterkin in connection with that incident.
One woman, Fiona, told 1010 WINS' Gene Michaels she has been upset ever since she first heard about the rape in Valley Stream State Park.
"Things like that don't happen around here," she said, "I mean, I've never heard of anything like that happen here. I live right here and the park's right there, so I was pretty shaken up about that."
She was relieved that a suspect was in custody, but stunned by his young age.
"He's 16?" she said with shock. "He's very young."
A New York Post report noted that a Nashane Peterkin, then 15, was also charged in a two attacks on women in the Laurelton section of Queens in 2011. In each case, the newspaper reported, he brutally beat and punched his victims in the head.
Peterkin was set to be arraigned on the latest charges Monday.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
