Police

Bail set at $250K for men charged in alleged Greenport rape

(Credit: Paul Squire)
(Credit: Paul Squire)

Two men accused of raping a female victim in Greenport early Sunday were ordered held on $250,000 cash bail following their arraignment Wednesday in Southold Town Justice Court. 

Jahvan Martin, 20, and Tiquan Williams, 21, were taken into custody about 1 a.m. Wednesday, town police said, after officers executed a search warrant at a property on West Street in Greenport Village.

Police had been investigating allegations of a forcible rape that reportedly occurred early Sunday morning, a police press release states.

According to the criminal charge filed against Mr. Williams, Mr. Martin held down the female victim — whose identity was not released — while Mr. Williams raped her. The complaint against Mr. Martin further states that after Mr. Williams raped the female victim, Mr. Martin did as well.

Both men were charged first-degree felony rape and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. After their arrests, the two tested positive for marijuana, according to a police deposition.

Mr. Martin, who appeared in court wearing a Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons jersey, lives in Albany and has been in Greenport for several weeks assisting his grandmother as she moves, said his defense attorney Patrick Burns.

Mr. Burns said his client works at Siena College in the utilities department.

Mr. Williams, who was wearing a black t-shirt and tan pants, graduated Greenport High School and has lived in the town for most of his life, said Anthony Rutkowski, his defense attorney.

According to a report on southoldlocal.com, Mr. Rutkowski said his client “maintains the sexual act was consensual.”

Neither man has any prior criminal history, according to their attorneys.

At their arraignments Wednesday, Justice William Price denied requests for lower bail for the two men, due to the nature of the case.

The two men were taken to county jail to be held on $250,000 bail or $500,000 bond. The case will now be forwarded to a grand jury, Mr. Price said.

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