59°
Jonathan Wallace, 33, was convicted on felony counts of an attempted criminal sexual act and third degree rape and a misdemeanor count of second-degree unlawful imprisonment on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
According to Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, on April 29 last year, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Wallace, posing as a phony “gypsy” cap driver, picked up the victim on East 241st Street in the Bronx.
Rather than taking his future victim to her home, Wallace drove to the vicinity of South 14th Avenue and West 3rd Street in the city before attempting his attack. Wallace demanded money from the victim, claiming she was a prostitute, before slapping and sexually assaulting her.
The victim fought off her attacker, fleeing the scene and reporting the assault immediately to police before being treated at Mount Vernon Hospital. Wallace was later discovered when his DNA profile – which was in the national DNA index system – was linked forensically to the evidence on the victim.
Wallace was later arrested by New York City police on a gun charge and was transported back to Mount Vernon. He will be sentenced on Tuesday, Jan. 7, facing up to 15 years in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lopez, the deputy chief of the Sex Crimes Bureau, is prosecuting. DiFiore said that this is an unacceptable act, praising the victim for coming forward.
“Getting into a vehicle under the mistaken impression that it is a car service shouldn’t be the start of a frightening nightmare,” she said. “Protestations to the contrary, this defendant had only one goal, to sexually assault his victim. Her immediate outcry and courage in coming forward to the police ensured that her assailant was caught and now has been held accountable.”
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mount Vernon and receive free news updates.
