BUFFALO, NY – Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that a Grand Jury has indicted five teenagers on a total of 205 counts for allegedly committing numerous crimes, including the rape of two child victims, in separate incidents that occurred last year in the City of Buffalo. Two adult male defendants and two male juvenile offenders have been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case. One adult male defendant, whose name will not be released until after his arraignment, remains wanted on an indictment warrant.
It is alleged that on September 26, 2020, approximately 8:00 p.m., Bryce J. Baker, Abdiwahab Sabtow, and a 13-year-old juvenile offender forcibly entered a home on the West Side of Buffalo with the intent to commit a crime. The defendants and the juvenile offender are accused of raping and forcibly engaging in sexual conduct with an 11-year-old female child who was home alone at the time of the incident. When the victim’s mother returned home, the defendants ran, allegedly stealing a cell phone from the house. The victim was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Bryce J. Baker, 19, of Buffalo was charged with the following offenses:
- Three counts of Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child (Class “A-II” felonies)
- Two counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- Four counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Burglary in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
Abdiwahab Sabtow, 19, of Buffalo was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child (Class “A-II” felony)
- Two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Burglary in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
The 13-year-old juvenile offender was charged with the following offenses:
- Three counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Burglary in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
It is alleged that on November 20, 2020, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a 16-year-old female victim entered a vehicle with Abdiwahab Sabtow and two juvenile offenders who drove her to Potomac Park instead of their intended destination. The three defendants are accused of forcibly raping the victim at the park.
After the alleged sexual assault, the defendants drove the victim to another location where they picked up Bryce J. Baker and another adult defendant. It is further alleged that the five teenagers drove the victim to West Ferry Street near Broderick Park where they forcibly raped the victim again.
The five defendants, who are accused of kidnapping the victim, drove to a third location on Dart Street where they forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse and sexual contact with the victim. The victim was allegedly held against her will in a garage for several hours before she was able to escape. A Good Samaritan saw the victim walking without shoes and drove her to a location where she was able to get help before she was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Abdiwahab Sabtow, 19, of Buffalo was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of Kidnapping in the First Degree (Class “A-I” felony)
- Six counts of Predatory Sexual Assault (Class “A-II” felonies)
- One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony)
- Sixteen counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- Fifteen counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
Bryce J. Baker, 19, of Buffalo was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of Kidnapping in the First Degree (Class “A-I” felony)
- Six counts of Predatory Sexual Assault (Class “A-II” felonies)
- One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony)
- Thirteen counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- Fifteen counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
A 13-year-old juvenile offender, who was also charged for his alleged involvement in the West Side burglary and sexual assault, was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of Kidnapping in the First Degree (Class “A-I” felony)
- One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony)
- Seven counts of Predatory Sexual Assault (Class “A-II” felonies)
- Sixteen counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- Fifteen counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
Another 14-year-old juvenile offender was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of Kidnapping in the First Degree (Class “A-I” felony)
- One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony)
- Sixteen counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- Fifteen counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
A 19-year-old defendant, who is wanted on the indictment warrant, was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of Kidnapping in the First Degree (Class “A-I” felony)
- One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony)
- Fourteen counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- Fifteen counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies)
- One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor)
The two defendants and two juvenile offenders were remanded without bail. A return court dates has not been scheduled at this time.
If convicted of all charges, the adult defendants face a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.
Orders of protection were issued on behalf of both victims.
“These five teenagers are accused of committing two of the most brazen and violent sexual assaults that have been prosecuted by my office’s Special Victims Unit, resulting in one of the highest count indictments that has been handed down by a Grand Jury in recent years in Erie County. I am shocked by the ages of these young men who are accused of raping these two children. I am committed to obtaining justice for these victims,” said Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn.
DA Flynn commends Detectives John Caruso and Jeff Banes of the Buffalo Police Department Special Victims Unit, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners at Oishei Children’s Hospital, and DA Confidential Criminal Investigator Mike Nigrelli for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Cathleen M. Roemer and Patrick E. Swanson of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.