Odessa Criminal Faces New Charges

A 47-year-old man from Odessa, previously convicted for serious crimes, is facing new charges of sexual assault and possession of drugs. He is currently in custody.

This was reported by the Odessa police.

In July of last year, a resident of Odessa reported to the police that an unknown man had assaulted her 15-year-old daughter.

Investigators found that the perpetrator, while intoxicated, spoke to the girl on the street and, upon learning that she was heading to the city center, offered to take her on a shortcut. He lured her into a secluded area, dragged her into an abandoned building, and committed sexual violence against her, which the girl later told her mother.

Within hours, operatives from the Odessa District Police Department No. 1 established that the crime was committed by a 47-year-old man with a criminal history of theft and robbery.

The police located the man, and during an urgent search of his residence, discovered a prohibited psychotropic substance, 4-MMC, which he had purchased for personal use.

Investigators detained the offender under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The court has remanded him into custody.

«During the pre-trial investigation, conducted under the procedural guidance of the Primorsky District Prosecutor's Office in Odessa, the police collected sufficient evidence, including expert conclusions, based on which charges were brought against the suspect under part 3 of Article 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – for sexual assault against a minor without her consent, as well as under part 1 of Article 309 of the same code – for illegal possession of psychotropic substances with no intent to sell,» said investigator Valeria Buliga.

The investigation is complete, and the indictment has been sent to court. The offender faces up to seven years in prison.