NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A Long Island physician assistant was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old patient, then giving her cash to keep her from telling anyone, police say.
Richard Bennett, 48, was arrested May 21 on charges that he had "inappropriate sexual contact" with a 14-year-old patient while he was working at Family Medical Care in Bay Shore, Suffolk County police said Friday.
Bennett allegedly gave the girl cash to keep her from reporting the abuse, police said. Police on Friday said the abuse allegedly took place in early May.
It wasn't immediately clear why the department sent out a press release about the May 21 arrest in June.
The Coram resident faces charges including third-degree sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a child and compounding a crime, police said. His attorney information wasn't immediately available Friday.
The department has asked anyone who may have been a victim of abuse to call the Special Victims Section at 631-852-8791.




