Man with multistate sex assault history charged in brutal sunbather attack

A man with a long history of sexual assault across four states has been accused of attempting to rape a sunbather in Central Park.

Jermaine Longmire, 43, was ordered held without bail following his arraignment on first-degree rape and sex abuse charges for the horrifying June 24 attack.

The alleged incident occurred in broad daylight around 1:15 p.m. near West 104th Street and West Drive in Central Park. Prosecutors described the harrowing scene, “The defendant approached this woman as he was masturbating, knocked her to the ground as she tried to run away, and proceeded to try to penetrate her without her consent while holding her on the ground inside the park.”

Longmire’s capture came after police apprehended him in connection to another incident on June 15, where he allegedly groped a woman inside the West 103rd Street and Central Park subway station. Facial-recognition technology from surveillance footage near the attempted rape scene played a crucial role in identifying Longmire.

During his arraignment on Wednesday, prosecutors unveiled Longmire’s extensive and troubling criminal background. His record includes multiple cases in New Jersey, Florida, and Maryland for sex assault, aggravated assault, theft, trespass, and gun possession. Notably, Longmire has faced at least two other forcible touching cases in New York that were dismissed after court-ordered psychiatric examinations.

In addition to these past incidents, Longmire currently has three active cases in New York City, including another forcible touching case for which he has twice had bench warrants issued.

The community remains on edge as the case unfolds, with many calling for heightened safety measures in public spaces. The disturbing nature of the attack and Longmire’s extensive criminal history have reignited discussions about how to protect citizens from repeat offenders.