GREENWICH VILLAGE, Manhattan (WABC) — The man charged with randomly assaulting an NYU student earlier this week appeared in court overnight.
It turns out this attack on an NYU student earlier this week wasn’t the first time James Rizzo is accused of violence against women.
He has a lengthy criminal record with 16 prior arrests, including for sex abuse and even attempted murder, and is now facing multiple new charges.
Pictures showed Rizzo, a level-two sex offender, in a Manhattan courtroom late Wednesday night as he was arraigned on charges of assault, persistent sexual abuse, forcible touching, and four counts of burglary.
Before the Greenwich Village attack, officials accuse the 45-year-old of assaulting a 68-year-old woman in Midtown on Thanksgiving night. He allegedly struck her with his elbow on Fifth Avenue, and she needed six stitches.
He was arrested Tuesday after being found breaking into NYU housing, where he was living among students and faculty, and allegedly stole multiple items.
This arrest came after the incident caught on surveillance of him randomly attacking 20-year-old Amelia Lewis, who was on her way to class on Broadway and Waverly Monday morning.
She’s okay, but the assault sent shockwaves beyond the NYU community. Lewis reflected on the attack during an exclusive interview with podcast host Megyn Kelly.
Rizzo was paroled back in September for an earlier conviction and does have a history of mental illness.
He was remanded by the judge Wednesday night and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He’s due in court in the Bronx Thursday for parole violations.
He’s then back in court for these latest charges on Monday.
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