By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday that Christian Inga has been indicted by a Queens grand jury for a brutal June attack on a 13-year-old girl and her friend inside Kissena Park.
Inga, 25, was arraigned on a 16-count indictment charging him with three counts of predatory sexual assault, rape in the first degree, two counts of criminal sexual act in the first degree, two counts of criminal sexual act in the second degree, two counts of kidnapping in the second degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
According to the indictment and investigation, at approximately 3:30 p.m. on June 13, Inga approached two children, both 13, inside Kissena Park in Flushing. The defendant allegedly pulled out a machete-style knife and threatened the children, instructing them to go to a wooded area with him.
Once in the isolated area, the Inga allegedly bound the teens’ wrists together and stuffed a cloth into the girl’s mouth and another piece of cloth into the boy’s mouth. The defendant then allegedly proceeded to rape and otherwise sexually assault the girl.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
DA Katz said Inga “will face justice in our courts.”
Before fleeing the park, Inga allegedly took both victims’ cell phones.
The children gave a detailed description of the attacker to authorities and – after an intensive manhunt –Inga was spotted in Corona and subsequently arrested by members of the City Police Department.
“This was a daytime nightmare for two children who were simply enjoying a day in the park after school. The defendant is accused of raping the girl after threatening the youngsters with a knife, forcing them into a wooded area, tying them together and gagging them. These children gave a detailed description of their alleged attacker and thanks to community members and the NYPD, Christian Inga was arrested after an intensive manhunt,” Katz said. “The defendant is now charged with predatory sexual assault – one of the highest charges available in New York State – and will face justice in our courts.”
If convicted, Inga faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
