A Greenpoint man is headed to state prison for 18 years after admitting he raped a 12-year-old girl inside her East Williamsburg apartment building, dragging her into a stairwell before taking off. The child was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and the sentence was delivered in downtown Brooklyn on Wednesday.
According to Brooklyn Eagle, the defendant, 28-year-old Eric McMichael, pleaded guilty on May 13 to two counts of first-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Masateru Marubashi imposed the 18-year term, and prosecutors said McMichael had been staying at a men’s shelter near the victim’s building.
In a statement, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence ensures that justice is done.” He noted that the plea spared the young victim the trauma of testifying and keeps McMichael off the streets, according to Brooklyn Eagle.
How the attack unfolded
Police say the assault happened on November 6, when McMichael followed the 12-year-old into a building near Morgan and Skillman avenues. He then grabbed her, dragged her into a stairwell and fled the scene. The girl was taken to a nearby hospital, and officers arrested McMichael the next day, booking him on multiple sex-offense charges, according to amNewYork.
Community response and prior coverage
Neighbors at the Cooper Park Houses said they were shocked and fearful when word of the attack spread last November, a reaction captured in earlier local coverage. Hoodline reported on residents’ calls for increased safety around the complex following the assault.
Prosecutors say the sentence closes the criminal case without a trial. Any post-conviction legal steps will be handled through court records and the district attorney’s office. In the meantime, McMichael is set to serve the term imposed by the court, while victim services remain available to the girl and her family.
