By:Hector Flores
The alleged rape happened Sunday, July 25, at 3:30 a.m., according to police.
Hours earlier, Joseph Locoteta, a 20-year-old mechanic who lives in a basement apartment at his parents' home on Rose Place, met up with the victim at a block party on Martin Avenue in Bellmore and plied her with alcohol, police said.
When she was drunk, the victim agreed to let Locoteta drive her home, police said. But instead of taking the teen home, according to police, Locoteta drove her to his apartment. On the way he phoned a friend, Salvatore Piccarillo, a 19-year-old carpenter who lives on Chapman Avenue, and told him to meet him at his place, police said.
When Piccarillo got to Locoteta's apartment, he allegedly took the teen into the basement, where he raped her while Locoteta stayed upstairs. Locoteta then allegedly joined Piccarillo in the basement, holding the girl against her will and forcing her to perform sexual acts on both of them.
After the alleged attack, the teen went home and told her parents what happened. They called the police.
Detective Sgt. Anthony Repalone said that once the report was made, the case was turned over to the Special Victims Squad, which conducted a thorough investigation before finally arresting Piccarillo and Locoteta on Wednesday, Aug. 4.
Piccarillo was charged with two counts of first-degree rape and two counts of a first-degree criminal sexual act, while Locoteta was charged with two counts of a first-degree criminal sexual act.
The pair were arraigned and released from the First District Court in Hempstead the following day, according to the Nassau County district attorney's office. Piccarillo posted a $100,000 bond and was released, while Locoteta was released on a $50,000 bond.
One of Locoteta's neighbors, who asked not to be identified, was shocked to hear the news. "This is heart-breaking for everyone," she said. "They are a nice family, and he was always well mannered."
Locoteta's attorney, Jeff Groder, said his client denies the charges and added that once the case goes to trial, there will be no evidence of an assault. "What she alleges that happened did not happen," he said.
Also questioning the charges were two people who are close to the Piccarillo family. "The girl is not right in the head," said one, who knows the victim and asked not to be identified. "She has had a crush on him for a very long time and she won't leave him alone. Sal is a good kid, and everyone I spoke to knows that this is not him."
A second source close to the family, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, "To tell me that Sal would do this is impossible. Sal is no angel, he has gotten into fistfights in the past, but never this. He'll fight with guys, but when it comes to girls he would never do that."
If convicted, Piccarillo and Locoteta face six to 25 years in prison.
Given the nature of the alleged crime and the victim's age, police are not releasing her name.
