Two Connecticut teens were able to fight off a 23-year-old man who allegedly threatened them with a knife and attempted to sexually assault them in a state park.
Darius Moreno, 23, is charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of breach of peace, two counts of assault in the third-degree, two counts of threatening, strangulation in the third-degree, two counts of unlawful restraint and two counts of criminal attempt at sexual assault in the third-degree.
Moreno allegedly threatened the two girls with a knife and attempted to sexually assault them on Monday, July 13 at Kettletown State Park in the Town of Southbury, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Environmental Conservation Police.
“The juveniles resisted and fought off Moreno’s attempts and were able to get assistance from other park patrons,” a police press release said.
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At his Tuesday, July 14 arraignment hearing in Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt said Moreno allegedly attempted to drag the teens into the woods by their hair, the Connecticut Post reported.
Moreno allegedly told the girls he was “going to (expletive) them and rob them,” Platt said, per the Post.
“One girl is so afraid she was going to be suffocated she gets down in the fetal position,” according to Platt.
One of the teens managed to fight him off and hit him in the head with a large rock, Platt said. He was also pelted by rocks, she said, per the Post.
While in custody, Moreno allegedly said, “‘I’m sorry,’ that he likes aggressive porn and that this was a sexual fantasy for him,” Platt said, the Post reported.
Moreno is being held on a $250,000 bond.
He has yet to enter a plea.
Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt declined to comment about the case.
Moreno’s attorney could not be reached for comment.

source: https://people.com/teens-dramatically-escape-knife-wielding-attacker-12020167