Bronx man accused of raping boy, 13, in stairwell of NYCHA building after pair spoke online

A ꦰBronx man is accused of raping a 13-year-old boy in the stairwell of a public housing building after the pair met o▨nline, prosecutors said.

Ishmael Francis, 29, was indicted on Monday on two counts of second-degree rape and related charges after carrying out the sick attac𓄧k on the young teen last month, the Bronx District Attorౠney’s Office said.

Francis and the boy exchanged messages around 11 p.m. on Sept. 18 before the suspect went to the Sotomayor Houses in Soundview where the vic🌳tim lives and lurked in the stairwell, prosecutors alleged.

When the boy walked down ꦅthat stairwell to throw out the trash, the suspect allegedly sexually assaulted him, the district attorney’s office said.

He then allegedly stole the victim’s phone and fled after 🥃he heard the 13-year-old’s family call out for him.  

The child was taken to Jacobi Hospital for treatment and the alleged per🐬p was arrested days later on Sept. 24 after the online messages helped identify him, according to the district attorney’s office.

“This defendant is charged 🉐with raping a 13-year-old boy who🎐m he engaged online and then went to his building,” District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a statement.

“Thܫis child has suffered trauma and we will do all we can to help him 🎐through this ordeal.”

Francis is al💜so facing charges of two counts of third-degree rape, two counts of sexual misconduct, endangeཧring the welfare of a child and fourth-degree grand larceny.

Supervised release was extended for Francis during a court appearance on Monday in the Brꦯonx. His next court date is Jan. 7, 🅺2025.