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Patterson Man Arrested on Rape and Kidnapping Charges
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a 22-year-old Patterson (NY) man on rape, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges.
On September 26, 2007, the sheriff's office received a report of two missing Putnam County girls, ages 13 and 14 years old. Investigator Michael Nalbone was assigned to investigate the matter in an effort to locate the youths. Two days later, the pair appeared at the Putnam County Department of Social Services in Carmel. Upon learning that they were missing from their homes, officials of the Department of Social Services contacted the sheriff's office.
Upon investigating the activities of both girls while they were away from their homes, Investigators Nalbone and Vincent Martin learned that the girls had befriended 22-year-old Stephen Pinel of Patterson. Not having a place to stay for the night, Mr. Pinel offered his residence as a place for them to lodge. Both girls returned with Mr. Pinel to his Putnam Lake residence, where it is alleged that he had sexual intercourse with one of them.
After consultation with the Putnam County District Attorney's Office, Stephen Pinel was arrested by Investigator Nalbone. He was charged with- Rape in the Second Degree; 2 counts of Kidnapping in the Second Degree and 2 counts of Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree.
The rape charge is based upon the accusation that Mr. Pinel engaged in sexual intercourse with another person who is incapable of consent by reason of being less than seventeen years old. The kidnapping charges and unlawful imprisonment charges are stem from the belief that Mr. Pinel moved the two teenagers in a manner which prevented the parents of the children from having lawful control or custody of them and restraining them with intent to prevent their liberation by secreting or holding them in a place where they were not likely to be found.
Mr. Pinel was arraigned before Patterson Town Justice John King and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility without bail. He is schedule to return to Patterson Justice Court on November 8, 2007.
A conviction of the most serious charge of second degree kidnapping, a class "B" felony, may be punishable by a sentence of incarceration in a New York State correctional facility for a term of up to twenty-five years. The rape charge is a class "D" felony. It may be punishable by a sentence of incarceration in a New York State correctional facility for a term of up to seven years. The crime of Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree is a class "A" misdemeanor; a conviction of which may be punishable by a sentence of incarceration of a term not to exceed one year in the Putnam County Correctional Facility.
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