Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 24-year-old Carl Thomas of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on one count of Rape in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Sex Act in the First Degree, one count of Strangulation in the Second Degree and one count of Sex Abuse in the First Degree.

It is alleged that on July 17, 2017, the defendant approached a young woman at a corner store on Broadway and Schutrum Street in the City of Buffalo. A few minutes later, the defendant approached the woman again outside of the store, grabbed her arm and gestured that he had a gun in his pocket. The defendant forced the victim walk with him to an isolated area where he allegedly strangled and sexually assaulted the victim.

The defendant was remanded. He is scheduled to return on Wednesday, August 8 at 9:30 a.m. for a motion argument.

If convicted on all charges, Thomas faces up to 25 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Bethany A. Solek of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau is prosecuting the case.

DA Flynn commends Kimberly Rapp, a rape advocate with Crisis Services, for her assistance in the investigation.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.