4 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 28, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Mobile COVID-19 testing sites open across Queens
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Starting Monday, Jan. 25,
Queens residents will be able to
get COVID-19 testing at mobile
sites across the borough.
NYC Health + Hospitals
released a list of mobile testing
NYC Council Member Moya is tested for COVID-19 at the mobile testing unit in Corona.
Deacon arrested for attempting to have sex with child: DA
BY JACOB KAYE
jkaye@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A deacon at a Woodside church was
cuff ed for trying to meet up with someone
he believed to be a teenage boy for sex,
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz
announced on Friday.
Rogelio Vega, a 50-year-old man from
Maspeth, was charged with attempted
use of a child in a sexual performance,
attempted criminal sexual act, attempted
disseminating indecent material to a
minor and attempted endangering the
welfare of a child on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
If convicted, Vega faces up to seven years
in prison.
Vega, who works as a deacon at Saint
Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in
Woodside, began communicating with an
undercover detective, who Vega believed
to be a 14-year-old boy, on the dating app
Grindr, according to the charges.
Th e two continued to chat, even aft er
the offi cer told the deacon he was a child,
according to Katz.
Vega allegedly used sexually explicit
language when speaking with the undercover
agent for several months, the DA
said. Eventually, Vega asked the offi cer to
send him nude pictures, according to the
authorities.
On three separate occasions, Vega sent
photos of his genitals to the offi cer and
made several requests to meet the person
he believed to be a teen in person for oral
sex, Katz said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Vega again requested
the two meet up for sex and, this time,
the offi cer agreed, according to the charges.
Vega allegedly drove to the pre-arranged
meeting place, fl ashed his car’s headlights
and the undercover offi cer got into the
car, according to the DA. Th e deacon was
then arrested.
Vega, who has been a deacon at Saint
Sebastian since May 2011, has been suspended,
according to a spokesperson for
the Diocese of Brooklyn.
“We are horrifi ed by the arrest and
charges against Rogelio Vega. He was
ordained a deacon on May 28, 2011. Th ere
has never been any complaint against
him,” the spokesperson told QNS. “Th e
Diocese of Brooklyn is committed to a
Zero Tolerance Policy, as nothing is more
important than the protection of children.
Rogelio Vega has been immediately
suspended.”
Saint Sebastian did not respond to
request for comment before press time.
Vega is scheduled to return to court on
Jan. 25.
sites that will be available
from Monday, Jan. 25, to
Friday, Jan. 29.
All individuals ages 2 and
older can be tested at any of
the sites listed, unless age is
specified. Tests are walk-in
only and no appointments are
necessary.
In addition to mobile testing,
residents can also receive
COVID tests and administer
self testing at various sites across
the borough. Self testing is only
for individuals ages 4 and older.
Self testing sites are listed on
QNS.com.
MOBILE TESTING SITES
Sobelsohn Playground
Park Ln S.
Richmond Hill, NY 11418
Jan. 25 to 29, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
NYCHA/Latimer Gardens
Parking Lot by Building #3,
34-20 137th St.
Flushing, NY 11354
Jan. 25 to 29, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
Kissena Corridor Park
Corner of Colden Street and
Geranium Avenue
Flushing, NY 11355
Jan. 25 to 29, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
Annadale Playground
Yellowstone Boulevard
between 64th Road & 65th
Avenue
Rego Park, NY 11374
Jan. 25 to 29, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
Park of the Americas
Corner of 104th Street and
41st Street
Corona, NY 11368
Jan. 25 to 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available.
4 years old and above.
St. Theresa of Avila
109-55 128th St.
South Ozone Park, NY 11420
Jan. 25 to 29, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available
4 years old and above
Voces Latinas
Corner of 37th Avenue &
69th Street (across from Hart
Playground)
Jackson Heights, NY
Jan. 30 to 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available
4 years old and above
NYCHA Redfern Houses
14-56 Beach Channel Drive
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Jan. 25 to 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available
4 years old and above
St. Leo’s Church
Parking Lot at 104-05 49th
Ave.
Corona, NY 11368
Jan. 25 to 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available
4 years old and above
Rego Center Mall
61-35 Junction Blvd. (street parking
along entrance to parking lot)
Rego Park, NY 11374
Jan. 25 to 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available
4 years old and above
NICE
71-29 Roosevelt Ave., 2nd
Floor
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Jan. 25 to 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available
4 years old and above
Poppenhusen
Playground
20th Avenue & 123rd Street
College Point, NY 11356
Jan. 25 to 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Rapid antigen testing available
4 years old and above
CCNS Dellamonica-
Steinway Neighborhood
Senior Center
23-56 Broadway
Astoria, NY 11106
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. –
3 p.m.
4 years old and above
Photo via Saint Sebastian’s website
Rogelio Vega, a deacon with Saint Sebastian Church in Woodside, was charged with several sex
crimes on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.
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