A Queens man has been indicted on charges including kidnapping and sexual assault after allegedly attacking an 11-year-old girl in Forest Park last month. According to a statement obtained by the Office of the Queens District Attorney, Teddy Moussignac, age 44, is accused of forcibly taking the child from a path while she was bicycling with her father nearby.
The incident took place on May 19 around 7 p.m. The Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, described the details of the crime in a press release. "This is every parent's nightmare," Katz said, recounting how the suspect grabbed the girl, covered her mouth and nose, and threatened her life. In trying to find his daughter, the father inadvertently startled the assailant, resulting in her release.
Following the attack, the young girl was found with bruises, swelling to her face, and scratches on her arms. During the subsequent police arrival, the victim and her father managed to point out Moussignac, who sat on bleachers nearby, trying to use an umbrella to hide from law enforcement officials.
Moussignac now faces several charges, including two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. The indictment handed down will see him returning to court on July 11, facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The investigation led by the 102nd Police Precinct was lauded by the DA's office for their swift response, which they credit for the swift apprehension of the suspect.
Assistant District Attorney Brianne Richards from the Special Victims Bureau is prosecuting the case. The bureau handles cases of this nature and works to hold offenders accountable.
