Bronx Man Arrested for Assaulting Teen

A man accused of preying on a teenager en route to school in the Bronx has been arrested. The incident, which took place on Thursday, involved the suspect allegedly threatening to expose embarrassing photos of the girl, forcing her into a wooded area, and then groping her before offering her $20, according to law enforcement officials.

O’Neal Kennedy, 45, confronted the 14-year-old victim around 8:20 a.m. near Bronx Alliance Middle School. Reports suggest he coerced her into a more secluded part of Seton Falls Park, warning her ominously, “I have a photo of you and your friends. If you don’t want me to see it, follow me.”

Once in the secluded area, Kennedy reportedly instructed the girl to lift her shirt before he exposed himself. Disturbed, she received $20 from him before he ran away, telling her he would see her again on Monday.

Fortunately, the girl was not physically injured. Afterward, she managed to get to school and reported the incident to a teacher.

Approximately 11 hours later, police located and arrested Kennedy, charging him with endangering the welfare of a child, indecent exposure, stalking, and harassment.

This isn’t Kennedy’s first encounter with the law. He has a history of seven prior arrests, including a 2010 incident in which he forcibly groped a woman when she was only 16 years old.

In a related context, just a month ago, another individual in the Bronx, identified as Xavier Chapman, 30, allegedly attacked a 19-year-old woman seated on a park bench in Belmont. He was charged with rape, sexual abuse, and harassment.

Moreover, in Brooklyn, authorities reported that 22-year-old Justin Lee attempted to rape a 12-year-old girl inside a Coney Island apartment complex this month, less than a week after being released without bail on charges from similar incidents.