Crime & Safety
Stamford Man Charged with Sex Assault of NY Girl, 15
Police said they tracked the man down thanks to the victim recalling a distinct tattoo on his hand.
Stamford police announced Thursday the arrest of a 26-year-old man on sexual assault charges for allegedly having intercourse with a 15-year-old runaway.
According to Sgt. Joseph Kennedy, authorities arrested Louis Minaya, of 64 Spruce Street, Apt. 2, after a collaborative investigation with Mount Vernon, NY, and Connecticut State police.
Kennedy said a 15-year-old girl reported to authorities that, on September 10, she was seated in a Dunkin Donuts in Mount Vernon at around 2 a.m. because she did not want to return home. The girl told police two men entered the establishment and engaged her in conversation, eventually convincing her to leave with them in a van, Kennedy said.
According to Kennedy, the men asked the girl her age, and she informed them she was 15 and provided them her school ID, to which the men allegedly replied they were surprised because she looked older than her age.
Kennedy said police were able to track down Minaya due to the girl's ability to recall a number of details while they were driving, including a "Welcome to Connecticut" sign and a Kentucky Fried Chicken on West Main Street. The girl didn't know where she was at the time, Kennedy said, but recalled a number of scenes she could see from Minaya's home.
She also detailed a number of Minaya's tattoos, including a tattoo on the man's hand that read "Plead the Fifth," a reference to invoking the fifth amendment in court to avoid self incrimination, Kennedy said, who noted it was a helpful detail in tracking down the suspect. The man allegedly told the girl she should get the same tattoo.
Minaya was tracked down to his residence and a search warrant was obtained for his house and cellphone. Police discovered Minaya was scheduled to appear in court on burglary charges relating to a case in August, and waited until he appeared to have U.S. Marshals take him into custody.
Kennedy said Minaya denies the encounter occurred. He also noted the sex was of a consensual nature, "as much consent as a 15-year-old can give," but that the girl told police the man had engaged in drug use and that she did not think she could do anything but consent in the situation.
Minaya was charged with second-degree sexual assault and injury to a minor. He was issued a $100,000 bond and given a court date of October 8.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
