
A third man has been arrested and charged with rape in the widely publicized disappearance of a 14-year-old Patchogue girl, who was found earlier this month on a boat docked in Islip, according to a Newsday report.
Alton Harrell, 35, of Bellport is alleged to have picked up the teen outside her home about 5 p.m. on Dec. 9 and brought her to an abandoned house on Doane Avenue in North Bellport, where prosecutors claim he sexually assaulted her over the next 24 hours. He is also charged with kidnapping.
Newsday courts reporter Grant Parpan wrote that Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Cory Neunzig told District Court Judge Steven Weissbard at Harrell’s Jan 18 arraignment that the defendant is alleged to have parted ways with the girl about 5 p.m. on Dec. 10. His arrest was based on a sworn written statement that the teen gave police, Parpan reported.
The girl’s father had said publicly that she was recorded by surveillance cameras knocking on room doors at a motel near Long Island MacArthur Airport in the early morning hours of Dec. 10. Though authorities have not confirmed that information.
Editor’s note: In an effort to protect the girl’s privacy as the story surrounding her disappearance develops, Greater Long Island is only identifying the youth as a 14-year-old girl from Patchogue.
Harrell is the third person to be charged in connection with the teen’s disappearance, which ended when she was found on a boat docked in Islip on Jan. 3.
Francis Buckheit, 64, of East Islip, was arrested the day after the girl was found on his 56-foot boat. Later, Bunice Knight, 47, of Copiague, was charged with rape. Prosecutors allege he had sex with the teen hours before her discovery.
Harrell’s court-appointed attorney, Jeremy Scileppi, denied the charges and stated that his client has cooperated with Suffolk police detectives since being first questioned by authorities on Dec. 15, the Newsday report says. Judge Weissbard set bail at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond, with Harrell facing potentially 5 to 25 years in prison if convicted, according to the report.
Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the circumstances surrounding the teen’s disappearance continue to be examined by local authorities.
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Top photo: GLI file photo (Credit: Mike White)