Suspect in attempted rape of Central Park sunbather has history of sex assaults: prosecutors
The creep accused of trying to rape a Central Park sunbather has a sick history of sex assaults in four states — including at least two New York cases that were tossed after psych exams, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Jermaine Longmire, 43, was ordered held without bail after he was arraigned on first-degree rape and sex abuse charges in the disturbing June 24 alleged attack in Central Park — as disturbing new details were revealed in court.
“The defendant approached this woman as he was masturbating, knocked her to the ground as she tried to run away and proceeded to try to penetrate her without her consent while holding her on the ground inside the park,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Christina Awad said in court.
Awad said the sicko then took off his shirt and hat after fleeing the scene.
Longmire, 43, was tied to the sick assault after cops picked him up this week in connection to another attack — the June 15 groping of another woman inside the West 103rd Street and Central Park subway.
On June 24, he allegedly came out of nowhere and pounced on the unsuspecting 21-year-old victim as she soaked in the sun around 1:15 p.m. at West 104th Street and West Drive, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press briefing Wednesday.
“The perpetrator approaches our survivor and exposes himself,” the chief said.
“She gets up and tries to run from the location but she is knocked to the ground by our attacker.
“Once on the ground the male was on top of her and attempted to forcibly rape her,” he said.
“She fought back — she fought back hard. Our survivor began to physically struggle with the perpetrator while screaming for help.”
Kenny said the woman’s efforts to fend off the fiend forced him to run off.
He said facial-recognition technology from surveillance footage near the crime scene helped identify Longmire.
At his arraignment Wednesday, prosecutors also revealed his sordid history — including “multiple cases” in New Jersey, Florida and Maryland for sex assault, aggravated assault, theft, trespass and gun possession.
Awad said he also has two other forcible touching cases in the Big Apple that were dismissed following court-ordered psychiatric examinations.
She said he also has three active cases in the city, including a forcible touching case for which he has twice had bench warrants issued.
Judge Laurie Peterson ordered a new psychiatric evaluation after the Central Park incident before he returns to court on Aug. 8.
“Our parks should be a place where New Yorkers can relax without fearing for their safety, and this alleged conduct will not be tolerated,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
Additional reporting by Amanda Woods
