Woman to File Against Pignato, Police, Alleging Forced Sex, Assault

Reported by: Jane Flasch
Email: jflasch@13wham.com
Last Update: 1/10 7:50 pm

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Intent to Sue -- What Victim Alleges

(Rochester/Greece, N.Y.) -- The woman at the center of a bribery case involving a Greece Police officer has filed notice she intends to sue Officer Gary Pignato and the Greece Police Department.

The woman said she’s the victim of assault and battery that includes forced sexual contact.

Police said Pignato responded to a domestic dispute call at the home the alleged victim shares with her boyfriend on August 24. The victim said he was with another officer, but was the only one to get out of the car.

According to court papers, Pignato asked her two questions: Had she been drinking? and, was she on probation? She answered "yes" to both questions.

The victim said Piganto then informed her that being drunk was a violation of her probation and to stay out of jail she had to agree to meet him after his shift.

She said she agreed because she believed she'd be arrested if she didn't.

After they met at a Mini Mart on McCall Road, the victim says Pignato then took her to his home.

According to her written complaint, she was subjected to "escalating sexual contact which eventually resulted in multiple acts of sexual intercourse and sodomy."

Pignato turned himself over to state police after being indicted for accepting a bribe and other charges.

Prosecutors allege that the bribe was not money, but sexual favors. Yet, the victim calls it assault and battery.

She says Pignato used his authority and power as a police officer to force her to submit to sex acts.

The victim says she suffered mental and physical injuries. She was on probation for petit larceny of property valued at less than $50.

She is also suing the Greece Police Department alleging Pignato used his status as a police officer to intimidate the victim.

Pignato has already been indicted on three counts related to this incident. However, State Police have been interviewing other women who also say Pignato acted inappropriately on traffic stops.

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