Marine, 19, charged in rape of girl in East Hampton
John James LaFemina, 19, of Staten Island, appeared before Justice Lisa Rana in East Hampton on Thursday, February 4, 2010 on the charge of rape in the third degree, a felony. Credit: Photo by Doug Kuntz
A Marine home on leave was arrested in Staten Island and charged in the rape of a 16-year-old girl in East Hampton, police said Friday.
Lance Cpl. John James LaFemina, 19, was arrested Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to third-degree rape Thursday in East Hampton Town Justice Court. He was released on $5,000 bail.
His next scheduled court date is Tuesday. East Hampton Village police said the alleged rape took place last Saturday, but would not say whether the victim is an East Hampton resident.
LaFemina met the girl via the social networking site My Yearbook, East Hampton Village Police Chief Gerard Larsen Jr. said Friday. He said LaFemina made arrangements to meet the girl in East Hampton.
Though LaFemina was charged with third-degree rape, Larsen said the investigation is ongoing and the charges could be upgraded.
Det. Greg Brown, who is investigating, said LaFemina had communicated with the victim for "the last month and a half." Those communications had originated from San Diego and Staten Island via e-mails. He said "an extensive investigation" by village police through e-mail accounts led them to LaFemina.
Brown said the victim knew LaFemina was in the military, but it wasn't until police identified him as the suspect that they learned he was a Marine.
LaFemina is assigned to the 1st Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton near San Diego, Marine public information officer 1st Lt. Ken Kunze said. His unit recently returned from a noncombat deployment in the western Pacific Ocean.
LaFemina entered the Marines in July 2008 and was stationed in San Diego early last year, Kunze said. The base's Staff Judge Advocate Office has not decided whether to charge him in military court, which would supersede an indictment in civilian court. Marines charged with a crime can be discharged even if a civilian court does not find them guilty.
Attempts to reach LaFemina were unsuccessful. It was not immediately known who is representing LaFemina in his case.
The judge in the case issued an order of protection for a witness to the alleged crime. It was not clear how the witness is related to the case.
With Nomaan Merchant
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
