Prosecutors have charged an Ecuadorian migrant for raping a 13-year-old girl he had bound and gagged at Kissena Park in Queens. The accused, 25-year-old Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi, appeared in a New York criminal court on Wednesday (June 19) where he faced charges of rape, predatory sexual assault, kidnapping, and several other felonies related to the shocking June 13 attack
“I was nervous at first, then got comfortable and recorded it,” Inga-Landi admitted in court. With scratches on his face, he kept his head down throughout the hearing. Judge Joanne B. Watters ordered him to be held without bail until his next court appearance on July 1.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the charges in court and praised the victim and her male companion for their bravery.
“I would like to talk a little bit about the bravery these two 13-year-old children have. It is amazing what they went through, their identification, their memory of the tattoo, the braces – all which was on point,” Katz later said in a press conference.
What happened at Kissena Park?
According to the prosecutor, Inga-Landi approached the duo in a wooded area of the park, forcibly tied them up, and gagged their mouths with cloth. After taking their cell phones, he allegedly began raping the girl. Before fleeing the scene with their phones, Inga instructed both children to stay put for 20 minutes.
“This attack on two children in broad daylight in a city park strikes the very core of our society,” stated Katz in a news release.
Inga-Landi’s arrest
On Tuesday (June 18), New York City police shared details and developments leading to Inga-Landi’s arrest. Residents identified him through wanted posters placed by the authorities.
A group of citizens conducted a citizen’s arrest and restrained him until police arrived.
New York Post later reported that immigration judges had ordered the accused to leave the US two years ago.
The 25-year-old is also facing charges of robbery, obstructing governmental administration, and endangering the welfare of a child.