Queens, New York prosecutors have accused a Rikers correction officer of pretending to be a television producer to sexually assault a 20-year-old woman, according to NBC News.
Anthony Martin Jr., 32, was arraigned Monday (August 26) in Queens Supreme Criminal Court. He has been charged with first-degree rape and sexual abuse, third-degree rape and second-degree unlawful imprisonment. Prosecutors said Martin allegedly reached out to the victim using social media and stated that he was in charge of casting a new show.
Martin invited the woman to his home in the Springfield Gardens part of Queens. She went on March 26 under the impression that other cast members and production staff would also be there, prosecutors said.
However, Martin was completely by himself. When he started to touch the victim’s leg, she tried to escape but Martin prevented her from leaving. He then raped her, according to prosecutors. When she finally left, she reported the crime to police and received helped from medical professionals.
At the time of the alleged attack, Martin was off-duty. On the day of his arrest —April 2 — he was suspended without pay, according to the city’s Department of Correction spokesperson Annais Morales.
At his first arraignment for his arrest, Judge Diego Freire set bail at $15,000 cash or $45,000 bond, as reported by the Daily News. Martin has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently out on bond. If convicted, Martin could receive up to 25 years in prison.
New York Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant has ordered Martin to return to court Oct. 18. In a statement, District Attorney Melinda Katz thanked the survivor for coming forward.
“My office is committed to standing up for survivors of sexual violence and we have secured a grand jury indictment against the defendant for first-degree rape,” Katz said.