By Bernd Debusmann Jr.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York City police officer accused of raping a woman admitted on Monday that he made a fake 911 call so he and a fellow officer could return to the victim's apartment.
Kenneth Moreno, 43, and his partner, Franklin Mata, 29, face charges of rape, burglary and misconduct stemming from the December 2008 incident involving a fashion executive, then 29.
Prosecutors say Moreno and Mata responded to a 911 call from a cab driver who said his fare was too drunk to get out of his taxi, and the pair escorted the woman to her apartment.
The two officers left but returned a few hours later in response to the 911 call, which Moreno admitted on Monday he faked, and returned twice after that.
They were arrested in April 2009 after the victim secretly taped a conversation -- using a watch equipped with a microphone -- with Moreno in which he acknowledges having worn a condom but insists nothing happened.
Taking the witness stand for the first time in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, Moreno denied raping the woman but admitted making the fake 911 call.
"It was stupid ... It was just dumb," he said.
Moreno testified he was trying to help the victim because he had abused alcohol after the September 11, 2001 attacks and a custody battle over his daughter.
"We spoke about how to stop drinking. I was giving her little tips," he said. "I told her things to make her feel good."
Moreno said the victim tried to kiss him and pulled him into her bed. He said he held her but did not remove any of his uniform or tactical gear.
He said he did, however, kiss her on the forehead.
"She just wanted to be held and I held her," he said. "She just needed someone to hold her for a second, just to make her feel better."
(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Tim Gaynor)
