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May 14, 2019 By Christian Murray
A Flushing man who raped a woman at knife point at Kissena Park in 2017–and then sexually attacked a 17-year-old female at the same park a day later—has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Charles Tobin, 31, of Kissena Boulevard, pleaded guilty last month to first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse, according to the Queens District Attorneys office. Today a judge imposed a determinate sentence of 15 years in prison for the rape and seven years behind bars for the sexual assault charge. The sentences are to run concurrently, followed by 10 years’ post release supervision.
“Two women were viciously violated by this defendant, who pounced on them in one of our neighborhood parks,” said Acting District Attorney John M. Ryan. “The defendant threatened both victims with a knife and caused them to fear for the lives.”
Tobin, according to the charges, held a knife to a 32-year-old woman as she walked in Kissena Park just before 11 p.m. on July 18, 2017. He initially demanded money but then he forced the victim to perform a sex act on him and then raped her at knife point.
In the second incident, Tobin held a knife to a 17-year-old female jogger who was in Kissena Park the next night at approximately 11 p.m. He demanded money and when she didn’t have any he stated: “Then you will have to do something for me.” Tobin then held a knife to her neck and sexually abused her and forced her to perform a sex act.
“This kind of brutality will not be tolerated in our parks or anywhere else in Queens County,” Ryan said. “The defendant pleaded guilty to these vile acts and he is now going to prison for a long time.”
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One Comment
I disagree with concurrent sentencing. It’s like he didn’t get any punishment for the second crime. In such egregious crimes, consecutive sentencing should be mandatory.