YONKERS, NY – A Yonkers man who sexually abused a woman after he tricked her into allowing him into her Nepperhan Avenue apartment in Yonkers, and who was later caught fondling himself by a passerby after he fled the scene, has been found guilty following a one-week jury trial, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced.
Folarin Soluade, 38, was found guilty of Burglary in the Second Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, and Public Lewdness, a Misdemeanor. Soluade, a discretionary persistent felony offender, faces a sentence ranging from a minimum of 16 years to life to a maximum of 25 years to life in state prison.
At approximately 10 a.m. on June 24, 2020, Soluade knocked on doors in a Nepperhan Avenue apartment building in Yonkers attempting to gain entry. Posing as someone who was there to fix a pipe, a female resident, who did not speak or understand English, allowed Soluade inside her apartment, believing he was sent by the landlord to do repairs on the bathroom. Once inside, Soluade exposed himself by dropping his pants.
The female resident screamed and ran into the hallway, but Soluade, who was still undressed, followed her and pinned her against the wall. As he tried to silence her and assault her, another resident intervened and Soluade fled the building. He was later seen in the parking lot fondling himself, which prompted a second victim to call the police. When Yonkers Police arrived, the first victim also reported her attack.
“We will have zero tolerance for sexual abuse and misconduct of anyone,” DA Rocah said. “The conduct in this case is especially outrageous because Folarin Soluade preyed upon an especially vulnerable victim. This verdict reaffirms that our system protects all individuals, regardless of their background.”
The case is before Judge Robert Neary in Westchester County Court and is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Owein Levin. Soluade is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24.