Roosevelt Man Sentenced to 100 Years to Life on Robbery, Kidnapping, and Rape Charges

Pearce broke into woman’s house, stole ATM cash and raped victim at gunpoint

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Christopher Pearce has been sentenced to 100 years to life in prison after being convicted of breaking into a Roosevelt home and leading a 39-year-old mother of two on an hour-long robbery spree that ended with Pearce raping and sodomizing the woman at gunpoint in an underground parking garage in Freeport.

Christopher Pearce, 29, of Roosevelt, was convicted by a jury of Rape in the First Degree, Robbery in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Kidnapping in the Second Degree, and Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree on May 2.  Nassau County Court Judge Joseph Calabrese presided over the sentencing.

Rice said that on August 30, 2007, Pearce broke into a Roosevelt home. While her 3-year-old child slept in the same bed with her and her teenage son slept in a room in a different part of the home, Pearce entered the bedroom of their then 38-year-old mother, woke her up, and demanded money from her. At gunpoint, Pearce forced her to drive to two nearby ATMs to withdraw money. After making two separate $300 withdrawals, she could no longer withdraw any money and Pearce ordered her to drive into an apartment building’s parking garage in Freeport where he raped and sodomized the woman at gunpoint. He then forced her to drive back to her home, where he left her without clothing.

“This defendant deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life,” said Rice. “This crime is every person’s worst nightmare, and I hope that the victim and the victim’s family can find some comfort in the fact that Mr. Pearce will never again see the light of day.”

Handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office is Assistant District Attorney and Deputy Bureau Chief of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau, Stephen Antignani. Pearce is being represented by Steven R. Barnwell, Esq.