A Queens grand jury indicted Jerson Vasquez on attempted murder, rape and other charges for allegedly arranging to meet a woman for paid sex and then beating her and then robbing her in Jamaica, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Aug. 29.
Vasquez, 23, of 170th Street in Jamaica, was arraigned Monday before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michelle Johnson on attempted murder in the second degree, rape in the first degree, robbery in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, strangulation in the second degree, attempted assault in the second degree, sexual abuse in the first degree and patronizing a person for prostitution in the third degree.
According to the charges, on Aug. 13, Vasquez responded to an ad on Facebook Marketplace for prostitution-related services. He asked the woman who placed the ad to meet him at an address on 93rd Avenue in Jamaica and directed her to the roof of the location. Vasquez 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. Then he demanded his money back.
Vasquez punched the woman in the face and took back the $150 he had given her, according to the 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 cellphone and fled.
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 charges state.
The woman was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where she was admitted for treatment on 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 defendant was indicted for attempted murder to accurately reflect the brutality of the attack,” Katz said. “We will seek justice for the victim of this vicious assault allegedly at the hands of a very dangerous, violent sexual predator.”
Justice Johnson ordered Vasquez to return to court on September 27. Vasquez faces 25 years in prison for each of the attempted murder and rape charges if convicted.
