'Depraved' Mastic Man Sentenced After Sexual Assault: DA

MASTIC, NY — A Mastic man was sentenced to 12 years to life in prison after sexually assaulting a woman in Patchogue in May, 2018, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

“This is a dangerous, depraved individual who attacked and sexually assaulted a stranger in broad daylight,” Sini said. “This is a significant sentence that serves justice for the victim and holds the defendant accountable for his heinous actions.”

Jessie Graham, 40, pleaded guilty on Sept. 4 to one count of first degree sexual abuse, a D violent felony, Sini said. Due to Graham’s criminal history, he was deemed a mandatory persistent violent felony offender by the court, Sini said. He was sentenced Thursday by Suffolk County Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis and was certified a violent sexual offender.

At 10:30 a.m. on May 4, 2018, Graham approached an adult female as she was walking through the Swan River Preserve, located in Patchogue, and asked for money and to borrow her cell phone, Sini said. When she refused, Graham forced the woman into the woods and sexually assaulted her; he then stole the woman's cell phone and money from her handbag and fled, Sini said.

She immediately went to a nearby business, contacted the police and provided a physical description of Graham, Sini said. Graham was apprehended 20 minutes later on Main Street in Patchogue in possession of the woman's phone and money and was arrested by the Suffolk County Police Department, Sini said.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Raphael Pearl, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Major Crime Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Anne E. Oh, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.