NEW YORK — Christian Inga, accused the kidnapping and rape of two 13-year-olds in Queenswas arraigned Wednesday in Queens Criminal Court.
Inge, who was apprehended early Tuesday morning after being beaten and held down by community membersis facing multiple charges, including rape, sexual abuse, theft, menacing, unlawful confinement, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a weapon.
Judge Joanne Watters remanded Inga in custody, meaning he will remain in custody until his next court hearing on July 1.
District Attorney Melinda Katz spoke after the proceedings.
“Two 13-year-old kids. He tied them up and put a gag in their mouths,” Katz said.
What the criminal complaint says
Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, but Inga bowed his head as he walked in in handcuffs. The prosecutor then explained what they say Inga admitted to investigators on video. They claim he told police he has a drug problem.
The indictment details Inga’s account of what happened that day, saying he told the children to “shut up” before tying them together with a shoelace, taking their cellphones and cutting off their clothing with a knife before engaging in sexual acts on the 13th. year old woman. The district attorney’s office says in the complaint that Inga videotaped the incident herself.
“That is still under investigation,” Katz said.
Among the evidence presented to Judge Watters was that Inga had been identified by the two 13-year-old victims.
“The courage of these two 13-year-old kids. It’s amazing that given what they went through, their identification, their memory of the tattoo, the brace, it was all exactly right. Something remarkable,” Katz said.
