'Horrific': Suffolk Man Pleads Guilty To Raping Daughter: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A South Huntington man admitted to sexually assaulting his 21-year-old daughter, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Wednesday.

The 45-year-old father pleaded guilty to first-degree rape. He and his daughter's names were withheld to protect the woman's identity.

"Not only did this defendant commit a horrific crime, but he violated his duty as a father when he sexually assaulted his own daughter," Tierney said in a news release. "This plea ensures that the defendant will serve a lengthy prison sentence for his actions and the victim will not have to relive the trauma she experienced by testifying at a trial."

The woman was spending time with her father when he encouraged her to spend the night at his house in February 2022, according to the man's statements and court documents. The man gave her an Advil PM pill, the DA said.

The woman was awakened from her sleep by her father rubbing her back and butt, prosecutors said. When the woman realized what her father was doing, he pinned her arms down and raped her, investigators said. The woman fled the house and ran for help from another family member who lived nearby, authorities said.

The woman told police that her father had previously sexually abused her when she was a child, the DA said.

The father on Wednesday pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree rape. He was also charged with four counts of first-degree sexual abuse, one count of third-degree rape, one count of second-degree course of sexual conduct, and three counts of second-degree sexual abuse.

He is due back in court on July 19 when he is expected to be sentenced. He is being represented by Michael Elbert.