BOSTON, Nov. 24, 2014— An East Boston man was held on high bail today after Boston Police who arrested him for attempted rape and other charges linked him to an earlier, similar sexual assault, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

EDUARDO SELVAN HERNANDEZ-ORTIZ (D.O.B. 2/5/94) appeared in East Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault with intent to rape, armed robbery, indecent assault and battery of a person over 14, open and gross lewdness, and receiving stolen property under $250 in connection with an assault that occurred Saturday and charges of aggravated rape and armed robbery for an assault that occurred Nov. 1.

Assistant District Attorney Janine D’Amico requested bail of $50,000 in each case – totaling $100,000 – and orders that Hernandez-Ortiz wear a GPS monitor, stay away and have no contact with the victims, and abide by a curfew in the event he is released on bail.  Judge John McDonald imposed $35,000 in Saturday’s attack and $50,000 in the earlier rape and all of the requested conditions of release.

At approximately 1:30 Saturday morning, Boston Police responded to a Meridian Street building where a man followed a woman inside, then held a knife to her throat, robbed her of the $2 she was carrying, and sexually assaulted her.  The victim told police that he attempted to rape her but fled when she resisted.  Officers searched the area and located a man matching the suspect’s description, later identified as Hernandez-Ortiz, nearby.  A wood-handled kitchen knife matching the one described by the victim was found in Hernandez-Ortiz’s waistband, prosecutors said. 

The victim positively identified Hernandez-Ortiz as her attacker and the recovered knife as the one held against her throat.

Hernandez-Ortiz was placed under arrest and found to be in possession of the $2 stolen during the attack as well as certified mail addressed to another East Boston woman, prosecutors said.

During the course of an investigation, Boston Police linked Hernandez-Ortiz to a similar attack that occurred at a Meridian Street location shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Nov. 1, during which Hernandez-Ortiz raped the victim and stole her cell phone, prosecutors said.

Hernandez-Ortiz allegedly made statements to police admitting to both assaults.  He also identified himself in surveillance images captured in the area of the earlier assault and told officers that the victim’s cell phone could be found at his West Eagle Street apartment.

Boston Police obtained a warrant to search Hernandez-Ortiz residence and recovered the stolen cell phone and clothing similar to that worn by the assailant, prosecutors said.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone. While the victims of any crime are asked to call 911 in an emergency, the survivors of sexual violence in Suffolk County can also call the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center’s 24-hour hotline at 800-841-8371. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center provides medical advocacy, legal services, counseling, and other services to victims of rape and sexual assault.

Hernandez-Ortiz is represented by Kelly Cusack.  He will return to court Dec. 22.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.