Former Cop Convicted Of Raping Teenage Runaway
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New York City transit worker and former police officer was convicted Wednesday of raping a 14-year-old runaway whom he lured to his apartment.
Darrin Nemelc, 45, was convicted by a Manhattan jury of rape and a criminal sexual act.
Nemelc saw the girl sitting and crying on a park bench in along Riverside Drive in Washington Heights, and brought her back to his apartment under the guise of offering her refuge, according to published reports.
The girl testified at trial that Bemelc first gave her a blanket and let her lie on his sofa, but insisted also that she take a bath, telling her, "you stink," according to a New York Post report.
The girl testified that she agreed to take a bath, and Nemelc then had forcible sexual contact with her over her protests that she was only 14 and it was illegal, the newspaper reported.
Nemelc maintained that the sexual contact never happened, the newspaper reported.
Nemelc was a New York City police officer but quit in 1999. He was later employed as a transit worker.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said the victim was extraordinarily courageous to come forward and tell the jury her traumatic story. He said Nemelc should have known better, especially because he's a former officer.
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