Man Indicted On Rape Charges Following Forest Park Attack: DA

QUEENS, NY — A man accused of trying to sexually assault a woman in Forest Park over the summer has been indicted on charges of rape and assault, prosecutors announced Friday.

A grand jury handed down a four-count indictment charging Cuauhtemoc Cardenas in the July 25 attack on a woman in Forest Park.

The 51-year-old woman was walking along Forest Park's Orange Trail about 6:30 p.m. when a
man came up behind her, hit her in the head and tried to kiss her, then pushed her into the bushes, according to police and prosecutors.

The man choked the woman and attempted to sexually assault her, but she fought back and

Cardenas, 32, was taken into custody two days later, after surveillance photos of him were shared in news reports. He is believed to be homeless, prosecutors said.

If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.