What to Know
-
A man raped an 11-year-old girl after crawling through her bedroom window[hhmc]
-
The girl was sleeping in her bed at her home in Brooklyn when the man gained access to her second-floor window[hhmc]
-
The man was taken into custody about six blocks away from the attack[hhmc]
A stranger climbed through a second-floor window, then up to the top bunk of a bed and raped an 11-year-old girl while her brother was in the bottom bunk below, a prosecutor said Sunday.
The prosecutor was arguing to set bail for the suspect, 18-year-old Julio C. Ayala, at $500,000. The judge agreed. Ayala walked in stoicly and appeared nonchalant during the hearing.
Ayala was charged with rape, sex-motivated burglary, criminal sexual act, sexual abuse and acting in a manner injurious to a child, the NYPD said.
The rapist left his Bulls hat behind in the girl's room, the prosecutor said. Ayala had previously been seen wearing a hat, but after the rape, he was not wearing one, the prosecutor said.
Ayala had a forged U.S. resident and Social Security card, the prosecution said.
Law enforcement sources told NBC 4 New York that they believe he is an MS-13 gang member.
Ayala lives with his aunt, uncle and two cousins in Brooklyn and works at his uncle's air conditioning business, his defense attorney said, arguing that he has strong community ties and wasn't likely to flee.
The rapist removed an air conditioner to access the window of the girl's bedroom in the Prospect-Lefferts neighborhood.
The girl wasn't able to identify him in a lineup, but he admitted to the rape, the prosecution said.
According to prosecutors, he said: "I've never done anything like this before."
Friends of the Brooklyn Queens Connector
Ayala's defense attorney said it was a mistaken ID and he had concerns about his client's ability to comprehend.
The next court date was set for Sept. 7.
Ayala was arrested Saturday outside his home at Flatbush Avenue and Linden Boulevard, about six blocks from where the girl was attacked. He was seen going into his home, then when police arrived he jumped out a window, the prosecution said.
A crowd formed as he led police on a brief foot chase, then hid in a construction site. When officers pulled him out, the neighbors cheered.
[contf] [contfnew] 
USA Today
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
