A 42-year-old Jackson Heights man pleaded guilty to contempt of court for violating an order of protection for contacting the young woman he pleaded guilty to raping in 2012 when the victim was just 15 years old.
Vernon Corbett, who lives on 77th Street, contacted the woman via a Linkedin request.
During their investigation, prosecutors said, the probation officer discovered Corbett had not listed his social media and email accounts with the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, which is required by law for all sex offenders. Investigators also discovered child pornography on Corbett’s cellphone.
“In light of the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that sex offenders cannot be excluded from the Internet or social media, it is imperative that those on the registry abide by the rules of the Division of Criminal Justice Services and identify their email accounts, screen names and any other online identifiers,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. “In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted to violating the order of protection against contacting the young woman he victimized five years ago. For this, and for failing to register his online identifiers, and for the photos of children being sexually abused that were found on his phone, the defendant will go to prison.”
Corbett pleaded guilty July 13 to attempted possession of a sexual performance by a child before Queens Criminal Court Judge Gia Morris, who indicated she will sentence him to one year in prison on Sept.15 for that offense. Corbett pleaded guilty last Friday to first-degree falsifying business records and second-degree criminal contempt before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron, who set sentencing for July 31.
At that time, Corbett will be sentenced to 1 1/2 to three years in prison. The defendant also pleaded guilty to violating his probation and will face one to three years’ incarceration. All sentences will run concurrently, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
