Sex offender convicted in attack on girl

A Nassau County Court jury Wednesday convicted a Plainview man - and registered sex offender - who police and prosecutors said forced his way into a 17-year-old girl's car during an attack outside the Plainview-Old Bethpage library in December 2009.

Jurors began deliberating Monday and returned a verdict Wednesday afternoon against William Tockash, 51, who had served 17 years in prison for rape and sexual abuse.

He was convicted this time of two felonies including first-degree coercion and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor. He faces up to 14 years in prison when he is sentenced, scheduled for April 8.

"Today's verdict is all the more important given this defendant's criminal history and the brazen nature of this attack," Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a statement. "Thanks to this teenage girl's bravery and the hard work of police and members of my office, a violent sexual predator is off the streets."

She said Tockash was released from prison in 2001 after serving 17 years for separate attacks on two women. He was registered as a Level 3 sex offender - considered most likely to re-offend.

Tockash's attorney, Dana Grossblatt of Jericho, said they plan to appeal the verdict.

Prosecutors produced evidence in the trial, which began Jan. 31, that Tockash tapped on the window of the victim's car as she idled at a red light in Plainview at about 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19, 2009.

Tockash asked the victim whether she had the time but reached into the car and opened the door when she rolled down the window. He forced his way inside and ordered the girl to drive around, prosecutors said. He asked her to stop on Joyce Road, where he put his hands across her face and mouth and put his mouth on her cheek.

The victim grabbed the keys and escaped the vehicle. Tockash left the scene but was arrested by police when he tried to enter his own car, parked across the street from the library.