By Joy Bergmann
On Tuesday, Jhonatan Cortes-Lopez, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted rape in the first degree (a class C felony) and two counts of forcible touching (class A misdemeanors) after sexually assaulting three women in separate incidents last summer on the Upper West Side, a Manhattan district attorney spokesperson told West Side Rag.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Cortes-Lopez will be sentenced to 12 years in prison and will receive 10 years of post-release supervision. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. He was not offered bail and remains in custody at Rikers Island until his sentencing hearing on May 28.
After serving his prison time, Cortes-Lopez, a native of Mexico, will be eligible for deportation action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the DA spokesperson said.
During a press conference last July, the NYPD said Cortes-Lopez had no prior arrests in New York City.
The Crimes
According to statements by the DA’s office and NYPD, on June 25, 2023, at around 5:35 p.m., a bike-riding Cortes-Lopez approached a 21-year-old woman walking on West 111th Street near Amsterdam Avenue. He commented on her appearance, dismounted his bike, and groped her breast. He continued to follow her until she asked a security guard for help, then fled.
On July 18, 2023, at around 4:40 p.m., Cortes-Lopez approached a 19-year-old woman talking on her phone inside Riverside Park near West 79th Street. He pinched her breast and made lewd comments before fleeing on his bike.
At around 9:45 p.m. that same evening, Cortes-Lopez rode up from behind a 38-year-old woman jogging along the Riverside Park bike path at West 89th Street, and blocked her movement. He then attacked her: grabbing her wrists, tackling her to the ground, pulling down her shorts, and attempting to rape her. She screamed and fought back. Cortes-Lopez, who was wearing a distinctive jersey with the number 40 on it, left the scene on his bike.
Three days later, the NYPD used video evidence to track Cortes-Lopez to a building on West 125th Street and arrested him. Officers found him wearing a number 40 jersey. All three victims identified Cortes-Lopez in a police line-up.
Cortes-Lopez’s defense attorney has not responded to WSR’s request for comment. We will update this story if she does.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here.
Good riddance.
Not enough. Not severe enough. Not long enough. Not ‘final’ enough.
12 years in prison, 10 years of post-release supervision, registered as a sex offender, AND subject to deportation? That’s pretty good.
Could have been worse…
https://www.westsiderag.com/2024/03/20/man-sentenced-in-riverside-park-south-sexual-attack
Great reporting once again from Joy and the WSR. So often these so-called “news blogs” like the UWS patch only rely on the NYPD releases and we never find out what happens and wny. Keep up the great work, WSR!
Glad to know that something was done. And thank you to WSR for following up on the crime.
Just adding: Media in the last two days had a story about Venezuelans who stole stuff at a Target on the UES, fought with police, and only one of five, I think, was jailed. They were in the country illegally. They are not political refugees.
Only one was jailed, BUT… “Four of the migrants arrested for robbing a Manhattan Target — then fighting the cops who tried to step in — were collared Wednesday by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and will likely be deported, according to the federal agency.
ICE also lodged a detainer with the city’s Department of Correction for the still-jailed fifth suspect, Brayan Freites-Macias of Venezuela, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement. “
Thanks to WSR for following up – greatly appreciated. Please keep us posted on other similar incidents that you previously reported.
Though some might want more, I am glad he has a pretty severe penalty for committing three crimes. 12 years is not trivial. More is better but I will take it.
I hope the victims are doing OK.
A blight on society- there is no rehabilitation. This is where I’m in favour of capital punishment
Seems about right.
You have to wonder what was going on in this guy’s head. He was bound to get caught.
Please more cops and cameras in parks.
Let’s hope he checks in and never checks out — like the Raid commercial.