An East Elmhurst man remains in a jail cell after being picked up this week for allegedly groping two young girls on the streets of Corona.
Detectives tracked down Noe Angel Sorriano Cruz, 38, on Oct. 10 and charged him with first-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching, second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Cruz went before Queens Criminal Court Judge Danielle Hartman for arraignment on Oct. 11 and was ordered held on $250,000 bail. He’s set to return to court on Nov. 2, and could face up to seven years behind bars if convicted of the charges, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
“The defendant in this case terrorized these innocent young girls by following them first and then allegedly sexually assaulting them,” Brown said on Oct. 11. “Let this be a constant warning to parents and all women — even pre-teens — to be mindful of their surroundings at all times.”
Law enforcement sources said the first assault took place at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, when Cruz allegedly followed a 10-year-old girl into a bodega on 104th Street near 39th Avenue. Once inside, he allegedly grabbed the girl’s groin area over her clothing, then fled the scene.
Less than a week later, at 8:20 a.m. on Oct. 9, Cruz allegedly victimized a 13-year-old girl on Junction Boulevard near 45th Avenue. Prosecutors said that he allegedly followed the girl for several blocks, then approached her from behind and fondled her genitalia.
Security camera footage that police recovered near both crime scenes showed the suspect later identified as Cruz walking through the area.
The NYPD Queens Special Victims Squad handled the investigation.
