The Special Victims Squad reported the arrest of a Valley Stream man last night, February 20, at 10:40 PM.
Now 27-year-old Yoel Gonzales was an employee of Bracco Music Center where he met a then 13-year-old girl in 2009. Initially Gonzales gave guitar lessons to the victim at the music center, but eventually the two began to socialize outside of Bracco’s. Gonzales continued to privately tutor the victim in her home after ending his employment at the music center, and after two years initiated a sexual relationship with her. He was 24 years old at the time and she was 15; the relationship persisted for another two year years.
After information about their relationship surfaced, Nassau County Police located Gonzales and placed him under arrest without incident. He is being charged with Criminal Sexual Act in the 3rd Degree and Rape in the 3rd Degree.
Gonzales will be arraigned in the First District Court located in Hempstead today. Detectives are asking anyone with information about potential other juvenile victims to call the Special Victims Squad at 516-573-4022.
In an unrelated case, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced yesterday the sentencing of a Queens teenager who initiated violent sexual misconduct against two women in Valley Stream last summer.
Nashane Peterkin, who was 16 at the time of the incidents, was tried as an adult for assaulting a pregnant 30-year-old woman on August 12, 2013 and for the rape of a 61-year-old woman on September 1, 2013. The first victim was struck and shoved to the ground, but escaped after Pertkin attempted to tear off her shirt; the second was strangled to the point of unconsciousness and then raped and beaten.
Pertkin was arrested on September 8 following a joint investigating between the NCPD and DA Rice’s office. He has charged with Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree and Assault in the 2nd Degree in the attack on the first victim, as well as Rape in the 1st Degree, Criminal Sexual Act in the 1st Degree), Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree, Strangulation in the 2nd Degree, and Assault in the 2nd Degree for the attack on the 61-year-old victim. He pleaded guilty in December before a grand jury.
Now 17, Pertkin faces 20 years in prison and an additional 20 years of post-release supervision. Judge Angelo Delligatti has also recommended an Article 10 hearing for Pertkin near the time of his release. The hearing would be used to determine whether the defendant suffers from a mental abnormality that would predispose him to sexual assaults and offenses; if a judge or jury finds that such is the case, Pertkin could instead be confined to a secure treatment facility.