New York City briefs

Kelly: Officer told missing teen to stop

The NYPD said Wednesday it continues an intensive search in the Long Island City area for Avonte Oquendo, 14, the autistic child who has not been seen since he walked out of school nearly two weeks ago.

Avonte was seen on video Oct. 4 leaving the Center Boulevard School on 51st Avenue, police have said. The 5-foot-3, 125-pound teen was wearing a gray striped shirt, black jeans and black sneakers.

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said Wednesday a school safety officer -- who is a police department employee -- stopped Avonte at the main door and told him to go back upstairs the day he disappeared. But the youngster instead left the building out of view of the officer, Kelly said. He said he didn't think the officer did anything wrong.

David Perecman, the attorney for the Oquendo family, said Wednesday the NYPD was doing a "tremendous" job in the search for Avonte but that Kelly's remarks don't address some concerns.

Homeless woman convicted in slaying

A homeless woman has been convicted of murder in the death of a man who was beaten and strangled in a Queens park in 2010.

Ruben Angel Vargas, 32, was killed in July 2010 in Astoria Park. Prosecutors said Vargas was killed by Kelly Harnett, 32, and Thomas Donovan, 34, who were homeless and camping in the park.

Donovan pleaded guilty and is serving a 15-year prison sentence. Harnett was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder and will be sentenced Nov. 20.

Man gets 30 years in Central Park rape

A 74-year-old bird-watcher has told the ex-convict who raped her in Central Park that he's a "sexual terrorist."

The woman condemned David Albert Mitchell as he was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison.

He pleaded guilty earlier this month to raping and robbing her in September 2012.

After describing the attack and injuries, the woman told Mitchell: "May you rot in hell for all eternity."

Compiled with

wire service reports