'Horrific': LI Man Found Guilty Of Raping Girlfriend: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A 23-year-old Brentwood man was found guilty of raping his girlfriend, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Thursday.

The man, who the DA did not name to protect the woman's identity, was convicted on charges of first-degree rape; fourth-degree grand larceny and other related charges, the DA said.

The man forcibly raped and sexually abused his girlfriend and stole her electronic devices to prevent her from calling for help, prosecutors said.

"The verdict today holds the defendant accountable for his horrific actions," Tierney said in a news release. "No one has the right to force themselves on anyone without their consent. Leaving a relationship can be the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence. Our thoughts remain with the victim as she continues to heal from this unimaginable trauma."

The man had been in a relationship with the woman for approximately five years, but she had been planning to end the relationship because of her belief that the man was using drugs, authorities said.

In the early morning hours of April 12, 2024, the man woke up angry, pinned the woman down on their bed and began to strangle her, causing her to break several nails while trying to get his hands off her neck, investigators said. The man told her that if she wasn’t going to be with him, then she wasn’t going to be with anyone, officials said.

He then pulled her clothes off before forcibly sexually abusing her, the DA said. The woman begged him to stop and vomited from the attack, but the man did not relent, Tierney said.

After, the man took all of the woman's electronic devices, including her phone, iWatch, and iPad, and left with them, prosecutors said. Since the woman had no way of contacting the police, she fled to her mother’s house and then reported the incident to the police, authorities said.

The police recovered the woman's stolen property from the man when they arrested him later that day, officials said.

On Thursday, the man was found guilty of one count of first-degree rape; two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act; one count of aggravated sexual abuse; one count of first-degree sexual abuse; one count of third-degree rape; two counts of third-degree criminal sexual act; one count of fourth-degree grand larceny; one count of criminal obstruction of breathing; and one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, the DA said.

The man is due back in court for sentencing on April 23 and faces up to 25 years in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. The man is being represented by Daniel Rodgers.