BRONX, NY – A 29-year-old Bronx man, Casmine Aska, was indicted on charges of predatory sexual assault against a child for the brutal rape of a 15-year-old girl in a Co-Op City apartment building stairwell, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Tuesday.

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The horrific incident occurred on February 27, 2025, around 8:20 p.m., when Aska and the victim were riding an elevator in the building. Surveillance footage captured Aska allegedly punching the girl in the face, causing her to collapse.

As the elevator doors opened, he reportedly brandished a knife, forced the teen into a stairwell, and raped her.“This is a nightmare for the young victim who was viciously assaulted,” Clark said. “The defendant will now face justice for this heinous act.”Aska, a resident of Nelson Avenue, was arraigned on July 1, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Busching.

He faces charges including predatory sexual assault against a child, first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was remanded and is scheduled to return to court on September 9, 2025.The victim was treated at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi and released.

Aska was arrested the following day, February 28, 2025.The case has sent shockwaves through the community, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to seeking justice for the young victim of this violent crime.

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