Bronx man gets 25 years for brutal rape on A train in East New York

April 20, 2023 Rob Abruzzese

The Brooklyn Supreme Court, Criminal Term, at 320 Jay St. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

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Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on Tuesday that Dashawn Lewis, a 32-year-old Bronx man, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the brutal and violent sexual assault of a 24-year-old woman on a northbound A train in the early hours of Aug. 11, 2021.

“This defendant violently and brutally attacked an innocent woman on the subway, and thanks to the victim’s brave testimony he will be held accountable,” Gonzalez said. “Protecting our communities from sexual assault is a top priority for my office and I commend the NYPD for their outstanding work apprehending the defendant within hours of this attack.”

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu sentenced Lewis to 25 years in prison and 20 years of post-release supervision.

Lewis was convicted of first-degree rape, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, third-degree robbery, forcible touching, and theft of services on March 16, following a jury trial. Lewis will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

According to evidence presented during the trial, the victim was waiting for the subway at the Liberty Avenue station in East New York when Lewis approached her. She ignored his advances, but he persisted, touching her inappropriately as she boarded the train. Lewis then began yelling at her in front of other passengers before moving to another car.

The distraught victim called a friend on Facetime, but the call dropped. After the other passengers left at the next stop, Lewis returned to the victim’s car, threatening her and forcing her to perform a sex act while he filmed it. He proceeded to rape her, forced her to perform another sex act, took her identification, and left the train.

The victim was met by her friend and police at the next stop, who had called 911 when the call dropped. She was taken to a hospital, where a sexual assault kit was prepared.

NYPD officers arrested Lewis for fare evasion at a nearby station shortly after the incident, recognizing him from the victim’s description. His DNA matched the sexual assault kit, and further evidence of the attack was found on his phone.