By SÍLE MOLONEY
BRONX HALL OF Justice, Sept. 15, 2023
Photo by Síle Moloney
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Tuesday, Dec. 2, that a Bronx man has been charged with third-degree rape, sexual abuse and other related charges for allegedly luring an underage girl to his apartment, having sex with her multiple times, and refusing to let her leave.
“This defendant is accused of arranging for a girl to come from her New Jersey home to his apartment for the purpose of engaging in sexual relations,” Clark said. “When the victim arrived, he allegedly raped her over the course of several hours. Fortunately, her mother tracked her there. She told the police, and her daughter was rescued. The defendant’s alleged actions are horrific.”
Clark said the defendant, William Credle, 24, of Hughes Avenue, located in Belmont between East Fordham Road and East Tremont Avenue, was arraigned on Tuesday on five counts of third-degree rape, three counts of sexual misconduct, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Eugene Bowen. Bail is continued at $50,000 cash/$200,000 bond. Credle is due back in court in February 2026.
According to the investigation, on Nov. 3, the defendant allegedly arranged for a car service to bring a girl who he met on the online app, Wizz, from her New Jersey home to his apartment. She arrived just before midnight. Credle allegedly gave the girl marijuana and a drink that she said made her feel sick and allegedly raped her multiple times.
The court heard that at about 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, the victim’s mother found the messages between her daughter and Credle on the girl’s cell phone, including the travel arrangements. The victim’s mother drove to the address and called 911. She entered the building and called her daughter’s name. The victim heard her and tried to leave, but Credle allegedly prevented her. At about 6 p.m., NYPD Emergency Service Unit Officers arrived and entered the apartment. Credle was arrested and the victim was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals Jacobi.
Credle is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dana Snay of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Johanna Hernandez and Alexandra Militano, deputy chiefs of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, Mimi Mairs, chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Adrienne Giunta, deputy chief of Special Victims Division and Joe Muroff, chief of Special Victims Division.
Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Jillian Crowley for her assistance in the investigation, as well as Officer Crystal Williams from the NYPD’s Bronx Special Victim’s Squad for her work on the investigation.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the corrected dates on which the crimes occurred, as later clarified by the Bronx DA’s office.