A 29-year-old man has been charged with raping a 13-year-old boy after lying in wait in a stairwell at the youngster’s Bronx apartment building, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced Monday.
The alleged rapist, Ishmael Francis, first met the victim online around 11 p.m. Sept. 18, according to a statement from the Clark’s office. Francis, who lives in the Bronx, then went to the victim’s apartment building, where he lurked in a stairwell until the boy came out to take out the trash — and then ambushed and sexually assaulted the child, Clark charged in a statement.
Francis then stole the child’s cell phone and fled the building when the boy’s family began to call out for him, according to the statement.
The child ran back to his apartment where his family called 911. The boy received medical attention at Jacobi Medical Center, but Clark noted the youngster sustained mental scars that will take longer to heal.
“This child has suffered trauma and we will do all we can to help him through this ordeal,” Clark said.
Francis was arrested Sept. 24 after police tracked him down through the online messages he sent the victim; he was charged with rape and sexual assault and will be on supervised release until his next court date Jan. 7, according to court papers.
