Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz moved quickly to bring criminal charges against an alleged sexual predator from Jamaica in connection with a brutal rooftop rape earlier this week.
Jerson Vasquez, 23, of 170th Street, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Aug. 16 on charges of rape in the first degree, robbery and two counts of assault for allegedly arranging to meet a woman for paid sex and then viciously attacking her and then taking back the money he paid, along with the victim’s cell phone.
According to the charges, on Sunday, Aug. 13, Vasquez responded to an advertisement on Facebook Marketplace for prostitution-related service. He asked the woman who placed the ad to come to an address on 93rd Avenue in Jamaica and directed her to the roof of the location. Vasquez allegedly gave the woman $150, which she put in her purse. The woman undressed and began to have intercourse with Vasquez, who grabbed her from behind, put his arms around her neck, choked her and slammed her head into a concrete wall.He then demanded his money back.
Vasquez then punched the woman in the face and took back the $150 he had given her, according to charges. He then sat on top of the woman and repeatedly slammed her head onto the rooftop and put his hands around her neck and applied pressure to her throat. He penetrated her for a second time.
In addition to the $150, Vasquez took the woman’s phone and fled, according to the charges. Video surveillance footage shows Vasquez leave the location at approximately 5:51 p.m. with what looked like blood on his neck and hand.
The woman was taken to a local hospital and admitted for treatment for a laceration to the back of her head — which required staples to close — bleeding, substantial pain and bruising and swelling to large portions of her head, face and neck, according to prosecutors.
“The charges portray a brutal and dangerous sexual predator,” Katz said. “We will seek justice for the victim of this horrific attack.”
Queens Criminal Court Judge Marty Lenz ordered Vasquez to return to court on Aug. 21. Vasquez faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
