STATE EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO 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, pleaded guilty to Rape in the Third Degree, after admitting to 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.

“This defendant’s job was to provide support to vulnerable youth,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Instead, he exploited his position of trust to take advantage of a 15-year-old girl by drugging and sexually abusing her. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who prey upon children and adolescents.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s guilty plea allocution, between January 2023 and February 2023, Cannon was employed as a 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 provided the victim with edibles, which are food products that contain cannabinoids, and then had sexual intercourse with her.

On December 1, 2023, Cannon pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis for the charges of Rape in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. Cannon is due back in court for sentencing on January 17, 2024. He is being represented by Michael Schillinger, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Acting Deputy Bureau Chief John Scarglato of the Narcotics Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Adolfo Berrios of the Suffolk County Police Department Special Victims Section.

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