Stephen Charles, 42, was arrested Friday night and is charged with more than 30 counts of various crimes, including predatory sexual assault against a child, rape, use of a child in sexual performance, promoting a sexual performance by a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
Police have arrested a Bronx man who is accused of sexually abusing several children — including some he met at homeless shelters — over the course of almost a decade.
Officials allege he sexually abused a 10-year-old boy, an 11-year-old boy, a 13-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old boy.
The incidents occurred between Jan. 1, 2018 and May 5.
The arrest came a day after the NYPD put out a request asking the public to look out for Charles.
He was detained just before 7 p.m. in the 50 precinct, which includes the neighborhoods of Riverdale, Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill and Spuyten Duyvil.
Police said one of the victims was a member of Charles’ family, and he met several others while they were all living at the same shelters.
At least one of the incidents happened at a homeless shelter near Morris and Watson avenues.
The sexual abuse came to light after Charles was arrested in June for physically assaulting the family member, prompting one of that person’s friends to come forward about abuse that involved both of them.
Charles faces five counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, six counts of rape, three counts of sexual conduct against a child and one count of criminal sexual act. He is also charged with six counts each of use of a child in a sexual performance, promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child, along with seven counts of sexual abuse and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The NYPD released images on Thursday of the wanted suspect, 42-year-old Stephen Charles.
The NYPD is hoping pictures of the suspect will help lead to an arrest.
Police are looking for a Bronx man who they suspect of sexually abusing five children and one young adult over the course of eight years — including at least three victims that he met at homeless shelters.
“I feel very concerned because I have my kids. Hopefully they catch the guy walking free like nothing,” said a Bronx mother.
Special victims detectives want to talk to Stephen Charles, 42, the prime suspect in a sexual abuse pattern within three different Bronx precincts: the 43rd, 46th and 47th.
The cluster of attacks took place between Jan. 1, 2018, and May 5 of this year.
Police sources did not provide any information about whether Charles had a previous arrest history.
In the viral moment before his arrest, the NYPD had released surveillance photos and sought public help identifying Charles after discovering the pattern of abuse spanning nearly eight years.
The abuse started in January 2018 and continued until May of this year, according to the NYPD.
At least three of the other victims crossed paths with Charles while they were living at Bronx homeless shelters, according to the NYPD. Officials did not specify exactly which shelters they were, but noted that the pattern of abuse could be traced to several different neighborhoods in the borough.
Charles’ last known address is in Edenwald, according to police.