Valley Stream State Park rapist admits guilt

The man accused of raping a woman in Valley Stream State Park and sexually assaulting another woman on Mill Road has pleaded guilty and is expected to spend the next two decades in jail.

Nashane Peterkin of Springfield Gardens, Queens, admitted his guilt in Nassau County Court on Thursday morning before Judge Angelo Delligatti. He pleaded guilty to all eight charges against him, including first-degree assault, first-degree attempted sexual abuse, first-degree criminal sexual act, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation.

Peterkin, then 16, was arrested on Sept. 8 following an investigation by several law enforcement agencies. He was charged with raping a 60-year-old woman at the state park on Sept. 1, and with attacking a 30-year-old woman on Mill Road on Aug. 12.

“Nashane Peterkin committed very serious violent crimes that will be with his victims forever and terrified the community, and he will now face the very serious consequences for them," said Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. "His victims and their neighbors can sleep more soundly knowing that this threat to the community will be behind bars for a very long time.”

Delligatti committed to giving Peterkin a sentence of 20 years in jail plus 20 years of post-release supervision. Should he decided to give Peterkin more prison time, the defendant has a right to withdraw his guilty pleas and go to trial. The District Attorney’s office had asked for the maximum sentence.

“We did not give him a deal,” said Shams Tarek, a spokesman for Rice. “We requested the maximum sentence. We did not quantify that. We did not say a number.”

The top charge against Peterkin could have carried a maximum sentence of 25 years in jail. He will be sentenced on Feb. 3.