Queens teen arraigned in Valley Stream rapes

The Queens teenager who police say is linked through DNA and a witness identification to two separate Valley Stream sex attacks, was arraigned Thursday on an indictment charging him with rape and sexual assault charges.

Nashane Peterkin, 17, pleaded not guilty before Judge Angelo A. Delligatti in Nassau County Court in Mineola. Delligatti ordered Peterkin held without bond.

Peterkin was charged with first-degree rape, two counts of second-degree assault, second degree strangulation, first-degree attempted sexual abuse, first-degree criminal sexual act and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

Peterkin, who answered in the affirmative when the judge asked him if he understood the proceedings, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge. His attorney, Michael Dreishpoon, of Forest Hills, declined to comment. Peterkin's father attended the hearing, but did not speak to reporters afterward.

According to police, Peterkin raped a woman in her 60s on Sept. 1 in Valley Stream State Park. Three weeks earlier -- on Aug. 12 -- police said he attempted to rape a 30-year-old woman who was walking south near the Long Island Rail Road's Valley Stream station.

Police said they are also trying to determine if Peterkin was involved in another attack on Aug. 12 in Lynbrook, which happened 20 minutes before the train station assault.