Surveillance photo of the suspect, released by the NYPD ahead of his arrest.
Manhattan D.A. Bragg has announced the 20-year prison sentence of Jamel McIver, 31, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to raping a 21-year-old woman in the stairwell of her Upper West Side building.
McIver was arrested several days after the incident, which occurred on March 4 at around 1:20 a.m. as the victim was returning home to her building near 64th Street and Amsterdam Avenue after a night out.
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When she got to her building, McIver followed her into its elevator, threatened her and “pulled her into a stairwell where he sexually assaulted and raped her,” a press release from the D.A.’s office describes. “He continued threatening her during the sexual assault. McIver pulled the woman down multiple staircases and eventually outside the building, where he threatened her a final time, before letting her go. McIver removed his jacket and sweatshirt and fled the scene.”
McIver, who has a criminal history of at least fifteen prior arrests and previously lived at an East Harlem addiction center, was turned in by relatives after they recognized his surveillance photos in news reports and on social media.
WANTED for a Rape in the vicinity of West End Ave and West 65th St. #Manhattan @NYPD20pct on 3/4/23 @ 1:20 AM a male followed the victim into an elevator and then forced her out of the elevator and into a stairwell where he raped her Reward up to $3500 Call 1-800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/4VMxCfgkVs
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) March 5, 2023
McIver has been convicted of Rape in the First Degree and has been sentenced to 20 years in state prison, 15 years post-release supervision, and SORA (Sex Offender Registration Act) registration.
“Jamel McIver viciously threatened and raped a woman in the building she called home, causing indescribable fear and pain that she and her loved ones still endure today,” said D.A. Bragg. “I thank this brave survivor for coming forward and sincerely hope the resolution of this case can offer her a sense of justice. My office will continue to center survivors and we encourage victims of sexual assault to call our trauma-informed Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373.”
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If the trauma of this barbaric act healed in 20 years, this POS can get 20 years. Until then, with the victim bound to be traumatized by this for the rest of her life, it should be life – without parole.
If this disgusting man would have been in prison where he absolutely belongs this horrible rape never would have happened. These criminals need to be jailed much sooner. Hold the judges who let them go accountable!!
Something tells me the tables will be turned on this one in jail