CROWBAR RAPIST PLEADS GUILTY TO RAPE AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 35 year-old Bronx man has been convicted of rape, robbery and other related charges in connection with a three month crime spree in 2004.

Otis Powell, of 3459 Eastchester Road, pled guilty to 2 counts of Rape in the 1st degree, 1 count of Burglary in the 1st degree, 1 count of Robbery in the 1st degree and 2 counts of Burglary in the 2nd degree, for attacks on three women and three children.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Peter J. Benitez set sentencing for Monday, August 22, 2005 in Part T6. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Powell will be sentenced to a term of forty years imprisonment.

The conviction covers a crime spree that began on March 18, 2004 and ended on May 19, 2004. In the first incident, Powell kicked in the door, hit the victim over the head with a crowbar and raped her. Powell made his victim take a shower in an attempt to destroy evidence of the rape. Once left alone the victim ran to the kitchen where she got a knife and stabbed the defendant who fled. Police recovered Powell's DNA at the scene.

The second incident occurred on April 15, 2004 when the defendant convinced a 12 year-old boy at home with his sisters to let him enter their house. Powell used duct tape to restrain the hands and feet of the 12 year-old boy and, his 7 and 14 year-old sisters. The defendant locked the two youngest children in the bathroom and took the older sister to the basement. When the children's mother came home, Powell bound her hands and feet with tape, and pulled her pants down but did not sexually assault her. Powell fled after stealing jewelry, a play station and a computer.

The third incident occurred on May 19, 2004 when Powell kicked in the victim's front door, struck her over the head with a crowbar, tied her up and raped her. The defendant then stole cash and credit cards before leaving. Powell, whose DNA was in a state data bank because of a prior weapons possession conviction, was arrested on May 22, 2004 in the vicinity of 204th Street and Bainbridge Avenue after it was discovered that his DNA matched the DNA samples recovered from the March 18th and May 19th incidents.

Assistant District Attorney's Adam Oustatcher and Sarah Crabtree, of the Child Abuse / Sex Crimes Bureau are prosecuting this case.