A 50-year-old woman’s quick-thinking friend helped police catch the teenager accused of raping her inside of a Richmond Hill shop last weekend.
Donovan Fenton, 17, of Bedford-Stuyvesant was arrested shortly after the May 6 assault, but was released later on $5,000 bond, according to court records.
The New York Daily News first reported that at about 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, Fenton allegedly stepped inside of the shop in Richmond Hill where the woman worked.
The woman reportedly felt uncomfortable and asked Fenton to leave. Police said he did so, but the victim still felt unsafe and called her friend, asking her to stay on the line.
Moments later, authorities said, Fenton allegedly returned to the location armed with a knife. He then took the victim to the basement, where he forced her to give him oral sex and raped her. Afterward, police noted, Fenton allegedly stole about $60 and fled the scene.
But, according to the Daily News, the victim’s friend had already called 911. Officers from the 102nd Precinct arrived on the scene, obtained a description of Fenton and found him in the vicinity of 118th Street, less than three blocks from the store.
Fenton, who is also known as Donovan Hardmen, was charged with with rape, sex assault, robbery and weapons possession. Reportedly, has eight prior arrests and was charged in an assault case in which he punched a 17-year-old girl in the face on a Manhattan-bound A train last year.
He is scheduled to return to Queens Criminal Court on May 19.
