By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday that Jerson Vasquez has been accused of allegedly arranging to meet a woman for paid sex and then viciously attacking her on a Jamaica rooftop and taking back the money he paid along with her phone.
Vasquez, 23, was arraigned on charges of rape in the first degree, robbery in the second degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, strangulation in the second 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 come to 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.
File Photo
The woman was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and admitted for treatment of several issues.
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. He demanded his money back.
Vasquez punched the woman in the face and took back the $150 he had given her. 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 phone 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 woman was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and admitted for treatment for 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.
“The charges portray a brutal and dangerous sexual predator,” Katz said. “We will seek justice for the victim of this horrific attack.”
Vasquez faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
