BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Police say a man is now being arraigned after allegedly sexually assaulting two women and holding them captive inside a home.
On Sunday, 36-year-old Jamal J. Harris was arraigned on Sunday by Buffalo City Court Judge, Peter J. Savage, for several of the following violent charges:
- One count of Rape in the First Degree
- One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree
- One count of Assault in the First Degree
- One count of Assault in the Second Degree
- One count of Strangulation in the Second Degree
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree
- Two counts of Menacing in the Second Degree
BPD said on Jan. 1, a woman reported that she had escaped from an unknown house after being held for two days against her will along with another female victim.
The woman, 33, said she had to jump from a second-story window and ran before flagging down a driver who brought her to Erie County Medical Center, where she was treated for injuries to her face, shoulder, and back. The woman told police that she was held against her will with a knife and raped.
Police went into action and during the search, a second woman was found at a convenience store and she was being helped by a worker. That 33-year-old victim was also transported to ECMC.
She told police more details that helped them narrow down the address where the women were being held. Police identified a house and conducted a search warrant with the Buffalo Police SWAT team on the 200 block of Moselle Street. Police say weapons were found inside the home.
District Attorney John J. Flynn says that additional charges may be filed at the investigation continues and both women have been released from ECMC in the meanwhile.
“The allegations against this defendant are disturbing and we are committed to obtaining justice for the victims," DA Flynn said in a release.
It was released on Monday, January 8 that Harris is scheduled to return to court for a felony hearing on Thursday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m. after being held without bail.
If Harris is convicted, he could face up to a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.