By John Tozzi
Robert McKeon, a 22-year-old bartender from Oakland Gardens, initially faced up to 15 years in prison on charges of assault, attempted rape and sexual abuse. Under the plea deal announced Friday, McKeon is expected to serve four years on the sexual abuse charge and will have to register as a sex offender after his sentence, Queens DA Richard Brown said.Brown said McKeon has been going to drug treatment and counseling since his arrest. That, combined with the victim's desire to avoid testifying at the trial, led to the plea deal, according to the DA.On the morning of Aug. 10, McKeon tackled the woman, who had just finished Tai Chi exercises, in Kissena Park near Peck Avenue and Kissena Boulevard, according to police and prosecutors. He then pulled her shirt over her face and sexually assaulted her, according to the criminal complaint. Bystanders called the police, who found McKeon shortly after in nearby bushes. The woman was hospitalized with a broken sternum and bruises, the DA said.McKeon's attorney, Stephen Murphy, said in August that McKeon had taken an eighth of an ounce of psychedelic mushrooms before the attack and had tried to jump in front of a car. Murphy, who is a friend of McKeon's family, said his client was “not a bad kid” whose father is a firefighter and grandfather is a retired detective.”It's a perverted act done by someone who is not a pervert,” Murphy said at the time. He could not be reached for comment after the plea deal was announced.”The defendant, who has been receiving drug treatment and psychological counseling since his arrest, has admitted his guilt, waived appeal and has been held accountable for his crime,” Brown said in a statement. “As a convicted felon, his imprisonment and registration as a sex offender will be just punishment for a terrible crime.”Queens Supreme Court Justice Robert Raciti indicated that he would sentence McKeon to four years in prison at the sentencing hearing on Feb. 16, the DA said.Reach reporter John Tozzi by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 188.
