A man from the Bronx faces serious allegations of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in the stairwell of a public housing complex following an online encounter, according to prosecutors.
Ishmael Francis, 29, faces serious legal consequences after being indicted on two counts of second-degree rape and additional charges following a disturbing incident involving a young teen last month, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.
At approximately 11 p.m. on September 18, Francis and the boy communicated before the suspect made his way to the Sotomayor Houses in Soundview, where the victim resides, and reportedly waited in the stairwell, according to prosecutors.
The district attorney’s office reported that as the boy descended the stairwell to dispose of the trash, he was allegedly sexually assaulted by the suspect.
He reportedly took the victim’s phone and ran away upon hearing the 13-year-old’s family shout for him.
A child was transported to Jacobi Hospital for medical care, while the suspect was apprehended days later on September 24, following the identification facilitated by online communications, as reported by the district attorney’s office.
“This defendant is charged with raping a 13-year-old boy whom he engaged online and then went to his building,” District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a statement.
“This child has suffered trauma and we will do all we can to help him through this ordeal.”
Francis is currently confronting serious allegations, including two counts of third-degree rape, two counts of sexual misconduct, endangering the welfare of a child, and fourth-degree grand larceny.
Francis had his supervised release extended during a court appearance on Monday in the Bronx. The next court appearance is scheduled for January 7, 2025.