In mid-June, a Bronx restaurant received a concerning note along with a delivery request. According to reports, the note said: “Please call the police.” Acting quickly, restaurant workers dialed 911, and the police rushed out to the apartment in question. Once they arrived, they found a 24-year-old woman who had been held captive by a man she’d met on a dating app.
Authorities say the woman had spoken to the suspect for months on a dating app before meeting with him at his apartment. Shortly later, the encounter turned violent. The suspect reportedly strangled, molested, and raped the young woman multiple times, sometimes using violent weapons like a knife. Of course, the victim attempted to call the police, but the culprit took away her phone.
The next day, the suspect ordered the victim to order food to the apartment. That’s where she saw her chance and requested the police through the app. Once the young woman was safe and the perpetrator was under arrest, authorities uncovered even more disturbing details about the ordeal. The suspect reportedly committed similar sex crimes against at least two other women. His first victim was another woman he met on a dating app, while he met the second woman on the street claiming to know a friend of hers.
Now, the perpetrator is facing multiple charges including rape, sexual assault, and more.
Sex Crimes in New York
Sex crimes in New York are not taken lightly. A person who gets convicted of first-degree rape could face up to 25 years in prison. What’s more, the offense is considered a violent felony.
That means a conviction will also cause an automatic loss of the right to vote, the right to possess firearms, the right to hold public office, and more.
Further, getting convicted of any sex offense in New York will require that you become a part of the official New York State sex offender registry. This public list will outline your name, address, a current photograph, and the sex crimes that you’ve committed. Once you’re on this list, you may find that you can only live in certain areas, work in certain professions, and visit certain places. For instance, you won’t be permitted to head to a public park where children often play and gather. You also won’t be allowed to live or work near a school.
Do You Need a New York Criminal Defense Lawyer on Your Side?
If you’ve been accused of a sex crime that you didn’t commit, then it’s crucial to act as soon as possible to protect yourself. It’s great to think that a judge or jury will see through the false allegations, but that’s not always the case, especially if you don’t have a strong legal defense team on your side.
It’s in your best interests to hire the best sex crimes defense lawyer that you can to secure a better legal outcome. Get in touch with our office for a free case evaluation now.
