STATE EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH RAPE OF 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT SUFFOLK RESIDENTIAL FACILITY

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Ovzie Cannon, 40, of Queens, was indicted for engaging in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl, who was a resident of the Brentwood Residential Center for Girls during his employment as a Youth Support Specialist there.

“This defendant miserably violated his duty of care to the victim by allegedly taking advantage of his position of trust and authority in order to satisfy his sexual desires,” said District Attorney Tierney. “No child should ever have to endure sexual abuse, let alone at a facility in which they should feel safe. My office will always seek justice for victims of sexual abuse by aggressively prosecuting sexual predators such as this defendant.”

According to the investigation, between January 2023 and February 2023, Cannon was employed as Youth Support Specialist at the Brentwood Residential Center for Girls, a facility operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. The facility serves female youth, typically between the ages of 12 and 18, who have been adjudicated as juvenile delinquents. During that time, Cannon was assigned to monitor the room of the 15-year-old victim. On more than one occasion, Cannon allegedly provided the victim with edibles, which are food products that contain cannabinoids, and then had sexual intercourse with her.

On March 27, 2023, Cannon was arraigned on the indictment by County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis, for two counts of Rape in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. Judge Wilutis ordered Cannon held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2.5 million partially secured bond. Cannon is due back in court on May 2, 2023 and is being represented by Pierre Bazile, Esq.
 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Erin Branigan of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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