D.A. BROWN: NURSING HOME SUPERVISOR CONVICTED OF RAPING EMPLOYEE IN HIS OFFICE IN JUNE 1999

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the conviction of a former housekeeping supervisor at a major Queens nursing home on charges of raping another employee in his office in June 1999.

District Attorney Brown said, "This was a violent and shameful act perpetrated against a hardworking young woman who was 3½ months pregnant at the time. I am pleased that the jury has rendered a guilty verdict."

District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Paul G. Garcia, 29, of 57 Birch Hollow Road, Effort, PA. He was found guilty of rape, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment after a week long trial before Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Buchter. He faces a maximum term of up to 25 years in prison when Justice Buchter imposes sentence on August 30th.

According to the testimony at trial the crime occurred inside the defendant's office at the Park Terrace Care Center, a nursing home and rehabilitation facility which is located at 59-20 Van Doren Street in Rego Park. It was testified that on June 7, 1999 the victim, a then 26 year old housekeeper who was 3½ months pregnant, was resting at the defendant's desk in his office when she awoke to find the defendant seated next to her. She got up and attempted to pass him and exit the office. According to the testimony he then grabbed her, prevented her from leaving the office, touched her breasts, pulled down her pants and raped her.

Assistant District Attorney Eric C. Rosenbaum of District Attorney Brown's Special Victims Bureau which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Marjory D. Fisher and Kenneth M. Appelbaum and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Gregory L. Lasak, was in charge of the prosecution.