By DEAN BROWN & MARK SULEYMANOV
A Bronx man pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday to first degree rape, and robbery charges stemming from his alleged attack on a female jogger in Central Park.
Forest Richardson, 26, allegedly assaulted a 28-year-old woman – whose name has not been disclosed – as she was jogging near 107th Street and East Drive around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, according to police. He allegedly dragged her into a wooded area, stole her cellphone, and attempted to sexually assault the victim before running off.
“Don’t scream or I will cut your throat,” Richardson allegedly told the woman, according to press reports.
The jogger ran off and found two police officers nearby to report the assault. Police tracked Richardson in the Bronx through the stolen iPhone. Police released information that Richardson has previously been charged with assault, grand larceny, and criminal contempt in attempted rapes in both 2013 and 2014.Dressed in a beige jumpsuit with a tear drop tattoo below his right eye, Richardson stood restlessly during his 10-minute appearance in front of Judge Mark Dwyer. While Richardson’s attorney and prosecutors deliberated with the judge, he tried to speak with an unidentified family member seated in the courtroom.
A pre-trial motion was put forth for a swab test for DNA analysis to match what authorities found at the scene. The trial was expected to resume on December 2.
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