A Mexican immigrant pleaded not guilty to forcing his way into a young woman’s East Village apartment and viciously raping her Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Fermin Flores allegedly came up behind the 22-year-old victim last Monday at about 5 am as she was entering her East Seventh Street pad and brutally attacked her, prosecutors said.
“The defendant followed her home pushed his way into her building and sexually assaulted her in various ways,” said Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal.
Defense lawyer Brad Sage argued that his client was innocent and should be granted bail before Judge Joanne Quinones remanded him.
Flores held the terrified girl down as she begged him to stop and yelled for help, according to the criminal complaint.
The restaurant worker was caught on surveillance video in the hallway of the victim’s building, according to police.
Cops arrested Flores at the San Loco eatery in North Williamsburg where he works as a cashier, according to court papers. He lives in Washington Heights with his girlfriend and has no priors, his lawyer said.
The shaken victim was taken to Beth Israel Hospital after the heinous crime.
Neighbors reported hearing her screams the night of the rape.
View videoAdditional reporting by Larry Celona