A Bronx man will spend 20 years behind bars for sexually assaulting three people in Inwood Hill Park in 2021, according to the Manhattan District Attorney.
Elvis Nina Pichardo, 43, pled guilty to several charges, including attempted rape, and was sentenced in state Supreme Court on Wednesday for his role in the trio of July 2021 attacks, the DA said.
“Elvis Nina Pichardo terrified our community when he attacked three different people enjoying a warm summer day in Inwood Hill Park in the span of less than one hour,” said District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
According to court documents, Pichardo first approached the first victim, a 34-year-old woman, in the Manhattan park on July 21 and threatened to rape her at around 11 a.m. When the victim attempted to call 911, the suspect snatched her phone and hit her.
After a few minutes, a bystander approached and the victim begged for help — causing Pichardo to run off with her cellphone, prosecutors said.
Just a half hour later, Pichardo attempted to strike again, as he made lewd sexual comments and threats towards a 40-year-old man who was walking his two dogs at the park. After a brief confrontation, Pichardo demanded the victim hand over his cellphone, and hit him with a large stick when the victim refused.
Moments later, Pichardo approached a 44-year-old woman while carrying the same stick, and tried to grab her. After a brief struggle, Pichardo hit her numerous times and tossed her to the concrete floor, before attempting to rape her.
A passerby found the disoriented victim lying on the ground, and alerted 911 — but the suspect had already fled with the victim’s backpack by the time cops arrived.
NYPD officers finally caught up with Pichardo after another incident of public lewdness and soon connected him with the attacks at Inwood Hill Park.
The Bronx resident eventually plead guilty to two counts of Attempted Rape in the First Degree, one count of Assault in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, and one count of Menacing in the Second Degree.
He was sentenced by a Manhattan Supreme Court Judge on Wednesday to 20 years in prison, followed by 20 years of post-release supervision.
Bragg touted the sentencing, promising to further crack down on sexual violence in Manhattan.
“As the sentence today makes clear, this type of repugnant conduct will not be tolerated,” the DA said.
