Brooklyn man convicted of first-degree rape in Gravesend basement incident

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson announced on Thursday, February 19 that a 42-year-old Brooklyn man has been convicted of first-degree rape and other charges for the April, 2013 attack on a 13-year-old girl in the basement laundry room of her Gravesend apartment building after threatening her with scissors.

Bennett Castello of East 29th Street in Midwood was convicted of two counts of predatory sexual assault, two counts of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony.

“This defendant’s brutal attack on an innocent and defenseless child is unforgiveable,” said Thompson. “He has proven himself unfit to live in a civilized society and now must be locked up as punishment for his deplorable crimes and to protect others.”

Castello’s sentencing has been set for March 18. He faces 24 years to life in prison on the top count.