Hempstead man arraigned in Queens on child rape charges, DA says

A Hempstead man who worked as an emergency medical technician for the FDNY and had served as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown was arraigned Monday on rape charges that Queens prosecutors said stem from his attack last Saturday on a 10-year-old girl.

Frantz Petion, 25, of Cornell Street is charged with first-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child, officials said. Queens Criminal Court Judge Scott Dunn imposed bail of $500,000 bond or $400,000 cash, according to prosecutors and court records.

“The defendant, who attended a birthday celebration while off-duty, is alleged to have turned it into a nightmare for this 10-year-old girl and her family,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, in a statement. “He will be vigorously prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Petion’s attorney, Justyna Mielczarek of the Legal Aid Society, declined to comment.

Prosecutors said that Petion, while a guest at a birthday party Saturday night, attacked a 10-year-old girl as she was sleeping in a bedroom in the attic. Authorities said Petion “held her by her neck and forcibly sexually assaulted her.”

They added that he was holding his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming when an adult who was checking on the girl heard a man’s voice from inside and forced open the locked door to find Petion and the partially clothed girl in the room.

Petion was arrested at 3:19 a.m. Sunday.

Fire Department of New York spokesman James Long said Petion will be suspended without pay for the maximum 30 days as the investigation proceeds. He said Petion has worked for the department for two years.

Petion worked for about a year as a volunteer firefighter for the Hempstead Fire Department before taking the job with the FDNY, said Hempstead Chief Frederick V. Sandas Jr., who said he was shocked to hear the allegations against Petion.

“He was a quiet kid,” Sandas said Sunday night. “He got a job opportunity and I said, ‘Go ahead, do what you gotta do. That’s gonna bring you money, a volunteer’s not.’ ”

Sandas said he wasn’t aware of any disciplinary issues or complaints filed by the public against Petion.

Petion is due back in court on March 23.

With Nicole Fuller