A Flushing man was indicted by a Queens grand jury on sex abuse charges for an attack on a teen in her building stairwell last month, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Jorge Alvarado, 27, of Flushing, was arraigned Friday before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant on a two-ount indictment charging him with sexual abuse in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child.
Katz said that on July 10, at around 3:20 p.m., video surveillance recorded Alvarado following the 15-year-old victim into her apartment building on Parson Boulevard in Flushing.
According to the complaint, Alvarado then approached the teenager from behind as she was ascending the stairs to her apartment, and forcibly groped her. The defendant allegedly forced her to the floor and continued to grope her while attempting to remove her pants.
Katz said a neighbor in the building heard the girl screaming and interrupted the attack. The good Samaritan and another resident held Alvarado until police arrived and took him into custody.
“As alleged the defendant carried out a brazen and terrifying attack on a teenage girl inside of her building,” Katz said. “The abuse has surely left a devastating mark on this young victim, but my office will use all the tools at our disposal to protect children from predators. The defendant has been indicted on serious charges and remains in custody at this time.”
Justice Pandit-Durant ordered Alvarado to return to court on September 12. If convicted, the defendant faces up to seven years in prison.
