LI Man Indicted After Raping Girl He Met On Snapchat: DA

MASTIC BEACH, NY – A Mastic Beach man was indicted Thursday on charges that he raped a minor female that he met on Snapchat, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Renato Oliva Garcia, 22, was charged with first-degree rape, a violent felony; second-degree rape, a violent felony; first-degree sexual abuse, a violent felony; and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

After an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department’s special victims' section, Oliva Garcia was arrested on March 17 and charged with the rape of a juvenile female at his home in Mastic Beach on March 15, Sini said.

Oliva Garcia interacted with the girl on Snapchat for several weeks before setting up an in-person meeting with her, Sini said. One day in early March, Oliva Garcia picked up the girl outside of her home, took her back to his home, and then dropped her off at school, Sini said.

On March 15, Oliva Garcia picked her up near her home and brought her back to his residence where he raped her, Sini said.

Oliva Garcia was arraigned on the indictment virtually in front of Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Chris Ann Kelley; bail was set at $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $150,000 partially-secured bond, Sini said.

Olivea Garcia is being represented by Luigi Belcastro and is due back in court on April 27, Sini said. Belcastro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If convicted of the top count, Oliva Garcia faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison, Sini said.

“This is a very concerning trend law enforcement is seeing where alleged predators are able to communicate with minors through social media and gain their trust before convincing them to meet in person,” Sini said. “As parents, we all need to stay vigilant in monitoring our children’s social media usage and talking to them about internet safety."