Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the trial conviction of TERENCE BANKS, 57, for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl skateboarding on Randall’s Island on July 27, 2019, and raping a 47-year-old woman on August 22, 2019, less than 100 yards from the first attack. On May 14, 2024, a New York State Supreme Court jury convicted BANKS on all counts, including four counts of Predatory Sexual Assault, two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He is expected to be sentenced on July 19, 2024. 

“Terence Banks was convicted by a jury of violently sexually assaulting a child and brutally raping a young woman just two weeks apart, turning two summer days on Randall’s Island into the scene of horrific crimes,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Everyone should be able to use our city’s parks exactly as these New Yorkers were – skateboarding and reading – without fear for their safety. I admire the bravery of these survivors for taking the stand and thank the jury for its careful consideration of their testimony and the evidence before them. Finally, I thank the prosecutors from our Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Bureau for the care and dedication with which they approached this case.” 

As proven at trial, on July 27, 2019, at approximately 3:00 p.m., BANKS approached a 15-year-old who had been skateboarding on Randall’s Island in a secluded area and asked her personal questions. When she attempted to walk away, he grabbed her around the neck with one arm in a chokehold and dragged her backwards into an even more secluded area stating, “I’m going to teach you a lesson for being alone.” As he held her in place, he put his hand down the front of her shorts and sexually assaulted her, saying “No one is going to hear you scream.” She continued to struggle, and he eventually released her, allowing her to escape. 

On August 22, 2019, at approximately 4:30 p.m., BANKS grabbed a 47-year-old woman who was reading on a rock near Randall’s Island’s beach from behind. He put his hand over her nose and mouth and told her, “Don’t make a sound, I’ll kill you, I’ll break your f—ing neck.” He slammed her face-down onto the ground and repeatedly raped her. He then forced her face back into the ground until she stopped moving. He kicked her a few times, and when she didn’t move, he placed debris over her body before walking away. 

He was arrested on October 1, 2019, by the NYPD’s Manhattan Special Victims Squad. 

Assistant D.A.s Charlotte Armour and Bethany Spiro handled the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Vanessa Puzio, Sara Weiss, and Kaitlyn Flatley (Deputy Chiefs of the Intimate Partner & Sexual Violence Bureau, “IPSVB”) and Nicole Blumberg (Chief of IPSVB) and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division). IPSVB Analysts Polina Yudin, Desiree Marks, and Noah Taylor assisted with the prosecution, as did the Investigation Division, particularly Investigators Steven Lane and Jose Vargas; and the Forensic Sciences/Cold Case Unit’s Coleen Balbert (Unit Chief), Melissa Mourges (Special Assistant D.A.), and Christopher Kamnik (DNA Specialist). The Survivors Services Bureau provided support, especially Victim Services Counselor Kara Wissing. 

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD Manhattan Special Victims Squad, particularly detectives Alfred Ortiz and Gabriel Baaith. 

Defendant Information 

TERENCE BANKS 

New York, NY 

Convicted:

• Predatory Sexual Assault, a class A felony, four counts
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony, two counts
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, one count 

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