NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 32-year-old Queens man was arraigned Wednesday for sexually assaulting and harassing two girls, ages 12 and 14, who were walking home from school earlier this month, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
James Villarruel allegedly asked both girls to take pictures with him in a Flushing park and sexually assaulted the one who agreed to do so.
On June 15 around 2:30 p.m., just as school was getting out, Villarruel asked a 12-year-old girl what she was going to get her dad for Father’s Day and offered her about $90 if she would participate in a photo shoot with him in nearby Kissena Park, according to prosecutors.
The girl reportedly attempted to inconspicuously take a photo of him and said she needed to call her mother, but Villarruel slapped the device out of her hands and forced her to scroll through her phone’s contents so he could see if she had taken a picture.
Afraid, the girl returned the man’s money and fled to her home as Villaruel yelled after her that she was pretty and said “I’ll see you next time,” officials said.
About 20 minutes later, Villarruel allegedly asked a 14-year-old girl to take pictures of him with his cellphone in exchange for $40.
The two walked to an isolated area in Kissena Park, and when the child went to take a picture of Villaruel, he exposed his penis and touched himself, prosecutors said.
He also told the girl to lay on his chest while he took a selfie. When she complied, he again exposed his penis, this time placing her hand on it and instructing her to perform a sex act while he filmed, according to authorities. He also allegedly groped the girl’s breasts over her clothing.
He reportedly gave her about $60 after sexually assaulting her. Both of his alleged victims reported the incident to family members, and surveillance cameras captured footage of them walking together in the park.
“The actions alleged here are any parent’s worst nightmare,” said Queens DA Melinda Katz. “Fortunately, the children bravely told family members what happened, enabling us to hold the defendant accountable for the disturbing charges against him.”
Villaruel was charged with promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child, felony luring of a child, forcible touching, sexual abuse and related offenses.
He could face up to eight years in prison if convicted.
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