Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Friday, April 22, that two men were charged with attempted murder, assault, and additional charges for the shooting of a woman with whom they had engaged in prostitution, inside the Opera House Hotel, located at 436 East 149th Street in Mott Haven.

 

Clark said both defendants, Kadeem Thompson, 29, of Linden Boulevard, Queens, and Robert Harris, 34, of Livonia Avenue, Brooklyn, have been arraigned on a 25-count indictment.

 

The list of charges included attempted murder in the second-degree, three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary, first and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and third-degree patronizing a person for prostitution.

 

According to the investigation, on March 18, Thompson allegedly contacted and solicited a 29-year-old woman to engage in prostitution with him at the Opera House Hotel. Thompson allegedly went to the woman’s hotel room at around midnight, later telling her his money was in his jacket outside. He stepped out of the room, returned with Harris and both allegedly solicited the victim to engage in various sex acts with them for additional compensation.

 

Thompson allegedly then took out a gun and demanded the woman perform the additional sex acts. When the victim refused, and tried to run out of the room, both men allegedly threw her against the wall, hitting her head. They then allegedly stole her cellphone and money at gunpoint, while continuing to hit her. The victim tried to use the hotel room phone to call for help but Harris allegedly ripped the phone off the wall and Thompson then shot her once in the thigh. They assailants then fled the hotel and the victim was taken to Lincoln Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries.

 

In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendants allegedly beat and robbed the victim. Then, one of the defendants allegedly shot her in the leg inside a Mott Haven hotel.” She added, “Such violence will not be tolerated.”

 

Thompson was arraigned on Friday before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas and remanded in custody. He is due back in court on July 6. Harris was already arraigned on April 13 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $500,000 cash/ $500,000 bond/ $500,000 partially secured bond at 10 percent and he is due back in court on July 6.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rachael Baughman of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Stephen Knoepfler, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, and under the overall supervision of Adrienne Giunta, Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Division, and Joseph Muroff, Chief of the Special Victims Division.

 

Clark thanked case discovery analyst, Jessica Walmsley, of the human trafficking unit and trial preparation assistant, Elaina Clarke, of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau.

 

She also thanked NYPD Detective Brian DeStefano of the 40^th precinct, NYPD Detective Joseph Azevedo of the human trafficking squad, and NYPD Detective Gary Capellan of the warrants squad for their assistance in the investigation.

 

Anyone who has been the victim of a crime in the commercial sex trade and is in need of support is encouraged to contact the Bronx District Attorney’s Office at (718) 838-6535; the New York City Police Department, or the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or by texting “BeFree” (233733) to the hotline phone number.