A Manhattan college student was raped and sodomized by a thug waiting in the shadows as she returned to her Chelsea apartment, The Post has learned.
NYPD detectives tracked down Juan Martinez, 33, of Elmhurst, Queens, on Monday and charged him with first-degree rape and committing a criminal sexual act, sources said.
The vicious attack occurred at 4 a.m. on Sept. 28, when the 29-year-old victim came home to her West 15th Street co-op after a night of partying and tried to open her door, sources said.
Suddenly, Martinez allegedly jumped out from a dark corner and accosted her, snarling, “We’re going to have sex the easy way or the hard way,” law-enforcement sources said.
The brute forced his way inside, threw her down and pinned her to the ground, according to a Manhattan Criminal Court complaint.
He then raped and sodomized her, court records state.
Martinez is being held on $5,000 bail at Rikers Island.
Police sources said it was the first arrest for the 5-foot-7, 205-pound Martinez. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top charge of rape.
According to the city’s Department of Correction Web site, the Mexican-born Martinez is wanted on an immigration warrant. His next court date is Dec. 30.