Photo Courtesy of Google
Rowe allegedly committed the crimes in this storage facility on Douglas Avenue in Jamaica.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday that Charles Rowe has been indicted for allegedly raping a 69-year-old woman, attacking another woman, and committing other crimes including robbery and burglary at a Jamaica storage facility in March and April.
Rowe, 56, of Manhattan, was arraigned on Friday on charges of predatory sexual assault, rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, burglary in the third degree, petit larceny, robbery in the first and second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
According to the charges:
On the evening of March 13, Rowe grabbed a woman as she was leaving her storage unit at 168-11 Douglas Ave., held a knife to her and threatened to kill her. He pulled her into a bathroom at the storage facility, sexually abused her and raped her before fleeing. The victim was taken to the hospital where a sexual assault evidence kit was administered.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
DA Katz characterized Rowe as “a stone-cold predator…”
On April 25, Rowe returned to the same storage facility late in the evening and entered a woman’s storage unit where he began rifling through her property. When the 61-year-old woman objected, Rowe allegedly said, “Let’s not turn this into a murder.” She struggled with Rowe, who had a metal object in his hand that he used to slash her neck and chest. He punched the woman and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. Rowe fled with property belonging to the woman. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Several hours later, in the early morning hours of April 26, surveillance footage showed Rowe at the same storage facility prying open a door and removing it from its hinges. He was seen on the video leaving the location with a shopping cart that he did not have when he entered.
On May 6, DNA evidence in the sexual offense evidence kit collected from the victim of the March 13 incident was matched to a DNA profile of Rowe. He was arrested May 13.
“We allege this man is a stone-cold predator who subjected two women to horrific violence and damaged and stole from a local business,” Katz said. “He will be held to account.”
If convicted, Rowe faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
