Long Island Man Pleads Not Guilty To Superseding Indictment In Missing Teen Case: Report

LONG ISLAND, NY — A man accused of raping a 14-year-old East Patchogue girl during her 25-day disappearance has pleaded not guilty to a superseding indictment in connection with prosecutors' allegations that he raped a missing 14-year-old girl at his home after she was brought there to settle a sex-trafficking debt, Newsday reported.

The charges include three counts of second-degree rape, aggravated patronizing a minor for prostitution, and endangering the welfare of a child, online court records show.

Anthony Wright, a 40-year-old Amityville electrician and lifelong resident of Suffolk, acknowledged he spent time with the teen, his attorney, Eric Besso of Sayville, said, adding that much of the prosecution's case is based on her testimony and she lacks credibility as a teenager, according to the outlet.

"He vehemently denies having any personal relationship or any sex with this woman," Wright’s attorney," he added.

Wright's bail was set at $350,000, $800,000 insured bond, and $3.5 million partially secured surety bond and he is due back in court on May 12, according to court records.

In the superseding indictment, 11 people, including Wright, have been charged in connection with the teen's disappearance, News 12 reported.

Daniel Soto, 36, has also been charged with rape and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the outlet.

The crimes are reported to have happened at Wright's Amityville home on Silverpine Drive, the outlet reported.

Out of the 13 people reportedly arrested in connection with the case, 10 are men and three women.

The first arrest in the case was that of Francis Buckheit, of East Islip, his defense attorney Danielle Marie Papa of Hauppauge said.

The second person arrested was Bunice Knight, 47, of Copiague, with investigators alleging he had sex with the girl inside of his house hours before she was found, according to reports.

Others arrested reportedly included Daniel Burke, 63, of Bohemia, and Robert Eccleston, who were reportedly arrested with investigators alleging they kidnapped the teen and held her at their homes.

Prosecutors also reportedly allege Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, of Bellport took the girl to a house in Copiague on Jan. 2, where she traded her for crack cocaine to a man who is accused of raping her.

A 20-year-old from Medford, Kevin McDonald, was also reportedly arrested in connection with the case.

Seven men and two women will answer a 75-count indictment containing updated charges, including child sex trafficking, kidnapping, and rape, Newsday reported.

Thirty-five-year-old Bellport resident Alton Harrell, who is alleged to have picked the teen up at her house on Dec. 9, faces the most serious upgrade with a new top charge of first-degree kidnapping, the outlet reported, citing court records.

Other arrests in connection with the case include that of Ralph Knowles, 63, and Rebecca Browell, 48, of Brentwood.

Online court records show that the nine previously indicted in connection with the case includes not only Knowles, but Buckheit, Eccleston, Burke, Harrell, McDonald, Elizabeth Hunter, Knight, and Comiskey.

Also previously arrested in the case was DeShaun McClean, a 42-year-old mental health worker, has been accused of having sexual contact with the teen between Jan. 9 and Jan. 23 at a children's mental health facility that she was staying at in Suffolk after she was found, according to News 12.

The father of the girl plans to sue a children's mental health facility over the violation of her constitutional rights, Newsday has reported.

Editor's note: The teen's name is being withheld to protect her identity as a minor.