Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of VERTELL DUNHAM, 26, for following a 20-year-old woman to her apartment, pushing past her at her door, strangling her and sexually assaulting her. DUNHAM is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Burglary in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, Strangulation in the Second Degree, and Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. [1]

“Women deserve to walk home without fearing that they are being followed or that they will be sexually assaulted,” said District Attorney Bragg. “As alleged, Vertell Dunham pushed past a young woman after trailing her to her building under the guise of needing medical care, before strangling her and attempting to sexually assault her. Thank you to our partners at the NYPD for their quick action arresting the defendant the next day – as he attempted to follow a college student into her residence hall.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record, DUNHAM followed the young woman home on March 19, 2024, jumping over the fence in front of her East Village apartment building. DUNHAM then pushed past her into her apartment without permission, showed her a cut on his finger, and asked if he can use her sink to rinse the cut. Unsure what to do, the woman offered DUNHAM a bandage. As she went to get it, DUNHAM approached her with his pants down, started strangling her and attempted to sexually assault her. The woman fought back and forced DUNHAM out of the apartment, slamming the door behind, and called 911. DUNHAM was arrested later the same day as he followed a college student into her residence hall.

Assistant D.A. Sarah Lubin is handling the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Nicole Blumberg (Chief of the Intimate Partner & Sexual Violence Bureau) and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division) with the assistance of Trial Preparation Assistant Eva Nikitovic.

Defendant Information

VERTELL DUNHAM

Queens, NY

Charges:

• Burglary in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class B felony, one count
• Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Burglary in the Second Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class C felony, one count
• Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Strangulation in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count

###

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.