State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) announced that on June 2 the State senate majority passed the bill she sponsored to establish a rape kit tracking system in New York State. The bill was also passed in the assembly, where it was sponsored by Assembly Member Amy Paulin, and now awaits sign-off by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

 

Bill S7867A/A9596 will direct the Division of Criminal Justice Services, in consultation with the State Department of Health, Office of Victim Services, Division of State Police, and the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Abuse to develop and implement a statewide electronic tracking system for evidence collection kits. The rape kits are used to collect and preserve evidence of sexual assault or other sex offenses.

 

In the context of the new legislation, the senator, who represents parts of The Bronx and Westchester counties, issued a statement, saying, “Unfortunately, it is extremely common for survivors to leave the hospital after a sexual assault and receive no information about the status of their rape kits. Survivors who do seek out updates report facing additional trauma, victim blaming, and contempt when they follow up with law enforcement.” She added, “By establishing a rape kit tracking system, we will restore agency to survivors and allow them to access information about the status of their rape kit, if and when they are ready.”

 

Biaggi, who, is currently running for congress in New York’s 17th congressional district and is a survivor of sexual abuse, continued, “A rape kit tracking system will provide survivors with a sense of control and self-determination, and serve as a crucial tool in holding hospitals, law enforcement, and State labs accountable for timely processing.” She thanked Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Paulin and her legislative colleagues for their support in passing what she described as critical legislation. “I look forward to it being signed into law,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, Westchester assemblywoman, Paulin, thanked Biaggi and her colleagues for their support of the bill and said, “Instituting a sexual assault kit tracking system is a critical step in bringing justice to survivors. This access can empower survivors and counter the loss of self-determination and control that is often at the core of a sexual assault experience.” She added, “Victims of sexual assault have already gone through enough and should have the ability to access their information – a potentially key step in their healing process.”

 

As reported, Biaggi previously sponsored legislation S452 (A5519A) that called for a prevailing State law to be amended to close the so-called “voluntary intoxication loophole,” to ensure sexual assault victims who may become intoxicated voluntarily, are provided with the same protection as sexual assault victims who become intoxicated involuntarily.

 

Biaggi and other advocates for the bill’s passage said at the time that this would avoid victim blaming, protecting all survivors of rape, regardless of how they become intoxicated, and would send a message to all New Yorkers that a person’s choice to drink alcohol or consume drugs is not an invitation to be sexually assaulted. The bill is still at the committee level state of the legislative process.

 

As reported, the NYPD confirmed a man was arrested on rape and robbery charges on May 9 in Pelham Parkway. At the time, police officials said, “Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, the following individual has been arrested and charged on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 2.11 hours [a.m.], within the confines of the 49 Precinct: Ramon Rotestan, 46-year-old male, 3560 Webster Avenue, Apt#10F, Bronx, NY.”

 

On May 31, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that Rotestan had been arraigned on charges of predatory sexual assault, first-degree rape, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, first-degree sexual abuse, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He was remanded in custody and is due back in court on August 16.

 

In the context of the case, Clark said, “The defendant allegedly brutally attacked a woman at knifepoint, stealing her money, and then raping her. The defendant was on parole for rape and robbery when he committed this crime. We will do everything in our power to keep women in The Bronx safe.”

 

Rotestan is a registered sex offender and was released from State prison on parole 39 days prior to the attack for convictions of first-degree rape, sexual abuse and robbery. Norwood News reached out to the parole board for more information about his parole conditions and will update this story upon receipt of any information in this regard.

 

We also reported on May 23 that a 44-year-old Bronx man, Timothy Harnett, who is homeless, was charged with allegedly kidnapping a woman and raping her over the course of five days in an abandoned building in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx. According to Clark, “The defendant allegedly held a 28-year-old woman captive for days, raping and beating her with a tire iron. The victim managed to escape with the help of a passerby. The defendant has been indicted on multiple charges for terrorizing this woman.” He is due back in court on August 9.

 

In March, we reported how a man was charged with the alleged attempted rape of a pregnant woman in the Melrose section of The Bronx. According to the investigation, on Aug. 9, 2021, at approximately 2.30 a.m., the victim, a 37-year-old woman, who was five-months’ pregnant at the time, was sitting alone on the front steps of her apartment building on Morris Avenue when the defendant, Amara Doumbouya, 27, who was apprehended in Cincinnati, Ohio, allegedly approached her and made obscene remarks.

 

When the victim began to make her way into her apartment building, Doumbouya allegedly grabbed her and pulled her shirt over her face, covering her nose and mouth, and wrapped her scarf around her neck until she could not breathe. He then allegedly threw her to the ground and dragged her into the building’s vestibule, pulled off her clothes, climbed on top of her and tried to kiss her.

 

Doumbouya allegedly then repeatedly punched and kicked the victim and used his body to cover her nose and mouth, causing her to experience stupor. A neighbor heard the victim screaming and came to her aid. Doumbouya allegedly fled the scene. The neighbor called 911 and the victim was taken to a local hospital for bruising, swelling, soreness to her neck, back and abdomen, and lacerations to her mouth. He was remanded in custody and was due back in court on May 17. No judgement has yet been announced.

 

More recently, Norwood News also reported on a robbery and sexual assault pattern identified in the Northeast Bronx and which involved coercive sex acts on two young male teens at knifepoint in two separate incidents.

 

As of June 5, year-to-date (reported) rapes in The Bronx are up 10.7 percent (165) versus 149 during the same timeframe in 2021. In the 50th precinct, which covers Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, Spuyten Duyvil, Riverdale and Fieldston, year-to-date rape incidents (11) were up 57.1 percent compared to the same timeframe last year (7).

 

In the 47th precinct, which covers Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Edenwald, Olinville, Fishbay, and Woodlawn Cemetary, year-to-date rape incidents (22) were up 29.4 percent compared to the same timeframe last year (17).

 

In the 52nd precinct, which covers Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights, year-to-date rape incidents (11) are down 26.7 percent compared to the same timeframe last year (15).

 

In the 46th precinct, which covers Fordham, University Heights, Morris Heights and Mount Hope, year-to-date rape incidents (10) are up 11.1 percent compared to the same timeframe last year (9).

 

As also reported, a Bronx male sex offender, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May 2022, had been released on bail in January 2021, despite having been hit, as a co-defendant, just four months earlier with 22 charges that included sex trafficking of a child and promoting prostitution, and separate charges of rape, a criminal sex act, unlawful imprisonment, and attempted strangulation. Upon release on bail, he attempted to traffic a previous victim and was rearrested the following month.

 

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a sexual assault, help is available: Bronx County District Attorney Crime Victims Assistance Unit 198 East 161st St. Bronx 10451, phone (718) 590-2114 or (718) 590-2115; Bronx Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, Inc. 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace Bronx 10463, phone (718) 884-0700 or (718) 884-0700 or (212) 227-3000.

 

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.