‘I Can Get Girls And I Get Money,’ Defiant Teen Tells Cops After Arrest For Raping 82-Year-Old Brighton Beach Woman
The teen accused of raping an 82-year-old woman during a robbery at her Brighton Beach home told police immediately after his arrest that the heinous act was carried out by an accomplice, according to statements provided by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.
“I did not do it, I let the other guy in the back door, I don’t want to be a snitch, but I was just the lookout. I don’t need nothing like that. I can get girls and I get money, my mother gives me money,” the accused, 18-year-old Asa Roberts, told police soon after his arrest in mid-July.
The DA’s office said there is no allegation in the criminal complaint that anyone else besides Roberts participated in the robbery or sexual assault. This past Friday, during a second arraignment, prosecutors added dozens of additional charges to Roberts’ indictment, which now totals 53 counts and includes charges of predatory sexual assault, first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree burglary. A predatory assault charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Roberts’ Attorney Samuel Karliner said “there were other people there” during the robbery and that his client denies the charges.
The Daily News reported that the victim picked Roberts out of a lineup after his arrest. Police also found forensic evidence, including a fingerprint, in the bedroom where the assault allegedly took place.
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch, who has remained in contact with the victim and her family, released a statement Friday praising Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson for adding additional charges to the indictment against Roberts.
“DA Thompson has demonstrated a strong leadership in ‘throwing the book’ at the man charged with these heinous crimes,” Deutsch’s statement read. “Let us continue to keep the victim, who is still struggling to recover, in all of our hearts and prayers.”
Hours after his initial statement to police, Roberts admitted that he did enter the home and steal some property. but maintained that he left his friend inside with the elderly woman, according to the DA’s office.
“I would never rape a woman and my friend is the one who did it,” he told cops.
According to police, Roberts snuck into the home around 1:40am on July 13 while the elderly woman was outside sweeping the street. When she returned to her bedroom, he allegedly held a knife to her face and demanded cash, then held her hostage for several hours before raping her and fleeing the home.
Roberts also described to police how he managed to evade capture for days despite being the target of a massive manhunt in which cops nearly caught Roberts multiple times.
“I hid between the sheet rock and the insulation of the wall. I was watching the warrant squad, the K9 Unit and ESU search for me. I could see them, but they could not see me,” he said of one of his close encounters with law enforcement. “They could not catch me because I do parkour which teaches you how to jump from roof tops of buildings.”
The DA’s office said they intend to “vigorously prosecute this case.”