In a disturbing case that has echoed through the tunnels of New York's subway system, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. has confirmed the indictment of 44-year-old Felix Rojas on charges of attempting to sexually assault an incapacitated man on the R train. The late-night incident took place between April 8 and 9, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
The victim, a 37-year-old man, was observed motionless on the train after smoking a cigarette that apparently led to him losing consciousness. Rojas is accused of boarding the train in Brooklyn and subsequently engaging in an ongoing assault against the victim, which included searching the man's body and attempting rape, despite the victim’s evident helplessness. In his statement, Bragg highlighted that while incidents such as this are alarming, they are committed to ensuring the safety of the subway system which has seen a general decline in transit crime. The victim, tragically, was later pronounced dead at the scene by EMS workers.
Throughout the ordeal, Rojas is reported to have paused his actions whenever other passengers entered the train car, indicating an awareness of the potential for witnesses. The prosecutorial management of the case falls under Assistant D.A.s Alexander Bourdakos and Kaitlyn Flatley, with Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney supervising, as they navigate through the complexities of this unsettling encounter on New York's public transit.
Detective John Williams of the NYPD Detective Bureau, whose work on the case was commended by D.A. Bragg, was integral in bringing about the indictment. Investigative Analyst Katherine Burke also provided key support. In the wake of this incident, the office of D.A. Bragg has reinforced its commitment to prosecuting such acts to the full extent of the law, promising swift justice for offenses committed in what should be the safe confines, of the city's subway system.
