BRONX MAN INDICTED FOR RAPING WOMAN AT KNIFEPOINT AND ATTEMPTING TO KILL A MAN IN SEPARATE ATTACKS IN MOTT HAVEN
Defendant Charged with Predatory Sexual Assault, Rape, and Attempted Murder
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been charged in two indictments with a brutal pair of attacks in Mott Haven within four days. The defendant first allegedly stabbed a man multiple times, and later raped a woman at knifepoint in Saint Mary’s Park.
District Attorney Clark said, “This man has been menacing residents of the Mott Haven community. The defendant allegedly took a woman at knifepoint to the park after she dropped her son at school. He allegedly robbed and raped her. Four days earlier, he allegedly stabbed a man multiple times in the back after approaching the victim’s car. The community can rest assured that our efforts to ensure accountability will promote safety and security in Mott Haven.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Christopher Martinez, 19, last of 620 East 137th Street, was arraigned June 22, 2022 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Denis Boyle on an indictment for Attempted Murder in the second degree, Attempted Assault in the first-degree, second-degree Assault, Attempted Assault in the second degree, third-degree Assault, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the fourth degree; as well as on an indictment charging two counts of Predatory Sexual Assault, first-degree Rape, first-degree Criminal Sexual Act, first-degree Robbery, two counts of first-degree Sexual Abuse and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon. The defendant was remanded, and he is due back in court on September 13, 2022.
According to the investigations, on May 27, 2022, the defendant walked up to a man who was removing items from his parked vehicle on East 139th Street, and said, “What’s up?” He then allegedly punched the victim in the head knocking him to the ground and then stabbed him multiple times in the back with a knife.
On May 31, 2022, the defendant was waiting near the second victim’s home. After she dropped her youngest son off at school, Martinez allegedly approached her and robbed her at knifepoint. He then walked her to Saint Mary’s Park where he allegedly raped her. Her oldest son heard the victim scream when the defendant approached her outside her home and called the police.
The victim was treated at a local Bronx hospital.
The Predatory Sexual Assault case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Insinga of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Johanna Hernandez, Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, Mimi Mairs, Chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Adrienne Giunta, Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Division, and Joseph Muroff, Chief of the Special Victims Division.
District Attorney Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Elaina Clarke of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau.
District Attorney Clark also thanked Detective Eddy Soriano of the NYPD Bronx Special Victims Squad for his work on the case.
The Attempted Murder case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jenesha M. Tai of Trial Bureau 70, under the supervision of Jessica D. Lupo, Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 70, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, Deputy Chief of the Trial Division, and Theresa Gottlieb, Chief of the Trial Division.
District Attorney Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Tanisha Springer of Trial Bureau 20.
District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Detective Adrian Zambrano of the 40th Precinct for his work on the case.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
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