Old DNA evidence helped link a Brooklyn man to the 2009 rape of a 29-year-old woman in Forest Park.
Carl Wallace, 30, was sentenced up to 25 years in prison on Tuesday. On September 24, 2009, Wallace dragged a woman walking on Park Lane near 91st Street into Forest Park. He told the victim that if she screamed, he would stab her and proceeded to rape the woman.
Afterwards, he stole cash, an iPod and identification papers from her purse.
The woman was treated at a local hospital and a rape kit was performed. DNA evidence from the rape kit was matched to a DNA sample Wallace was required to submit following an unrelated 2003 conviction of attempted burglary.
“The fact that the defendant in this case was required to submit a sample to the DNA databank following a 2003 attempted burglary conviction and thus was identified as the perpetrator in this case once again underscores its effectiveness as a tool of law enforcement,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Brown used the case to lobby for expanded use of the DNA sampling program. “Hopefully, the legislature in its closing hours will expand the law to require defendants to submit a DNA sample upon conviction of any crime,” he said.
“The defendant is a violent predator who should receive the maximum sentence in order to punish him and protect society,” Brown added.
by Eric Yun
