http://www.silive.com

Parks ranger was teen's pimp, D.A. says
Lawyer calls the charges bald-faced lies; suspect's ex-wife stands by him
Thursday, July 20, 2006
By FRANK DONNELLY
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
A former chief ranger at Gateway National Recreation Area at Great Kills exploited a 13-year-old girl for his sexual gratification and also pimped her out to make a buck on the side, prosecutors charged in court yesterday.

But Paul A. Lemole, the lawyer for Angel Nazario, fired back, contending the charges against the 60-year-old Fort Wadsworth resident are "outrageous and bald-faced lies" and claiming that the girl had mental problems.

Nazario's former wife also rallied to his defense, contending that the allegations are "totally out of character" for him.

"This is not who he is," Cheryl Nazario said outside state Supreme Court, St. George, before quickly walking away after Nazario's arraignment under a 110-count indictment, consisting mainly of rape charges.

Nazario, who sports a close-cropped white beard, said nothing during the five-minute proceeding. Wearing eyeglasses, a white T-shirt, gray sweat pants and slip-on sneakers, the short, gray-haired defendant stood silently with his hands manacled.

Lemole pleaded not guilty on his behalf to all charges.

Justice Stephen Rooney kept Nazario behind bars but did set a July 31 bail hearing.

Prosecutors allege that Nazario raped the girl, then 13, in his apartment in Fort Wadsworth more than 90 times over the course of nearly two years, beginning in September 2004 and ending last month.

Under state law, it is illegal for someone 18 or older to have sexual intercourse with another person younger than 15 unless they are married to each other.

Nazario had befriended the girl's mother, a Mexican immigrant, in his old Port Richmond neighborhood while she was collecting cans for deposit money, and offered the girl a job cleaning his apartment, prosecutors said.

Nazario would give the girl between $30 and $60 per week to make it seem as though he were paying her for that chore, authorities and law-enforcement sources said.

During approximately the same period, Nazario allegedly arranged for the girl to sexually service 10 different men on separate occasions at the Victory Motor Inn, a Willowbrook motel, and the Swan Motel in Linden, N.J.

The defendant dressed the teen in "provocative clothing," and watched, a source said. The men were not identified in court papers.

At least one man gave the girl $100, Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Naughton said at the arraignment.

Authorities became aware of the alleged episodes last month, after the girl came forward to say that Nazario had stalked and threatened her, a law-enforcement source said.

The name of the teen is being withheld due to her age and the nature of the alleged crimes. Now 14, she is a student on Staten Island.

In disputing the allegations, Lemole said Nazario has no prior criminal record and has worked 25 years for the federal National Park Service. A Park Service spokesman previously said Nazario began his career as a seasonal park ranger and is currently a management assistant working and living in Fort Wadsworth.

According to Advance records, Nazario held the position of chief ranger at Gateway National Recreation Area at Great Kills from at least April 1992 through November 1997.

It was not clear whether the Park Service has taken any action against Nazario. Brian Feeney, a spokesman, did not immediately return telephone calls yesterday seeking comment.

Mike Gaylor, who identified himself as a retired cop and friend of Nazario's, said outside court yesterday that the defendant would be vindicated.

"He's a good, benevolent human being," said Gaylor, adding he had "personal knowledge" that Nazario was not with the girl on a number of the dates he is alleged to have raped her.

Nazario potentially faces up to seven years behind bars if convicted at trial on each of multiple counts of second-degree rape and second-degree criminal sexual act, formerly classified as sodomy.

Frank Donnelly is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at fdonnelly@siadvance.com.