By Joe Anuta
The Brooklyn man who dragged a woman into Forest Park and raped her was sentenced to a maximum of 32 years in prison, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Friday.
Carl Wallace, 30, of Hawthorne Street in Brooklyn, was convicted June 21 of the attack, which took place in September 2009.
“This defendant is a violent predator who poses a serious threat to public safety and as such the sentence imposed by the court is more than warranted,” Brown said in a statement.
The victim was walking along Park Lane South and 91st Street at about 3:20 a.m. when Wallace grabbed her from behind, the DA said.
He told the victim he would stab her if she screamed, dragged her behind some trees in the park and then raped her, Brown said.
Afterward, he stole an iPod, some cash and the victim’s ID, Brown said.
Wallace fled the scene, but was tied to the crime through DNA evidence.
In 2003, when he was convicted of attempted burglary, Wallace was required to submit a DNA sample, which Brown credited as a key tool in the case.
“The fact that the defendant in this case was required to submit a sample to the DNA data bank … and thus was swiftly identified as the perpetrator in this case once again underscores its effectiveness as a tool of law enforcement.”
Brown said the crime-fighting tactic was so effect that every criminal should have to submit a sample upon conviction.
“The law must be expanded to allow DNA samples to be taken for all convictions so that justice can truly be served to the fullest,” he said.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
