Man Accused of Raping 5-Year-Old Girl on Staten Island Allegedly Choked Mother During Attack
A disturbing incident unfolded last month on Staten Island when a man was accused of raping a 5-year-old girl and then choking the child’s mother when she tried to call 911 after walking in on the horrifying assault, according to court documents.
The suspect, Dominique Giles, 30, was reportedly in the midst of sexually assaulting the young girl, who is known to him, when her mother discovered him with his pants down inside the bedroom on Jan. 22 and attempted to contact the authorities, prosecutors revealed.
However, Giles allegedly responded by “wrapping his hand around her neck and squeezing, causing the woman to have difficulty breathing, vomit, and be unable to speak to the 911 operator,” as stated in a criminal complaint.
Following the assault, Giles proceeded to physically assault the woman before grabbing her phone and fleeing the residence near Richmond Terrace and Sharpe Avenue in Port Richmond, according to court documents.
Emergency responders transported the child to Richmond University Medical Center following the disturbing incident.
The mother of the girl sustained injuries, including bruising on her face and back.
Giles was apprehended by the Regional Fugitive Task Force a few days after the NYPD circulated a mug shot of him, identifying him as the alleged perpetrator.
At his arraignment in Staten Island Criminal Court, Giles faced 19 charges, including rape, robbery, sexual abuse, assault, strangulation, sexual misconduct, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and endangering the welfare of a child.
A judge in Staten Island set bail at $250,000 cash for Giles.
Authorities revealed that this was not the first instance of Giles being involved in a violent altercation with a woman.
Authorities noted that Giles had a prior arrest in April for allegedly assaulting and choking his girlfriend while damaging her phone in the Brighton Heights area of Staten Island.
In that instance, Giles faced charges of felony criminal mischief and assault.
Giles is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 7.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
