OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
4:50 PM – Thursday, March 26, 2026
Nicol Alexandra Contreras-Suarez, a 31-year-old biological male from Colombia who identifies as a transgender woman, pleaded guilty this week to second-degree rape in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy inside a bodega bathroom in East Harlem.
The case has since drawn national attention due to the defendant’s immigration status, criminal history, and the extremely lenient plea agreement reached with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
The assault reportedly occurred last year inside the restroom of a bodega, near Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem. According to prosecutors, Contreras-Suarez — who was walking a Pomeranian at the time — followed the 14-year-old victim into the bathroom and then raped him.
The boy was eventually able to flee the store, flag down witnesses, and alert authorities. Contreras-Suarez was arrested the following day.
At the time of the arrest, it was revealed that Contreras-Suarez:
- Entered the United States illegally through San Ysidro, California, in March 2023, but was released into the interior — pending immigration proceedings. This transpired during the Biden administration.
- Was the subject of an ICE detainer lodged after the Manhattan arrest.
- Had prior warrants and criminal history, including arrests in Massachusetts for armed robbery, prostitution, and assault with a dangerous weapon, as well as “undisclosed additional matters in New Jersey.” In some cases, local sanctuary policies had previously limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Contreras-Suarez was originally charged with first-degree rape of a child under 17 and stalking. However, on Tuesday, a plea deal was accepted in Manhattan Supreme Court, allowing the defendant to plead guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree rape.
The Manhattan DA’s office claimed that the resolution was reached in consultation with the victim’s family, to spare the teenager from testifying before a grand jury and at trial.
Judge Michele Rodney presided over the plea hearing.
The judge ruled a sentence of six months, with full credit for time already served, approximately 13–14 months on Rikers Island since the 2025 arrest. This means the defendant is expected to face no additional local jail time upon formal sentencing, scheduled for April 27, 2026. At that hearing, Contreras-Suarez is also expected to be released from city custody unless federal authorities intervene.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an active detainer and intends to take Contreras-Suarez into federal custody for deportation proceedings once the local case concludes. However, New York City’s sanctuary policies historically limit cooperation between local corrections officials and ICE.
Nonetheless, a felony conviction for a violent crime may allow for greater coordination under city rules.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously highlighted the case as an example of the risks associated with “catch and release” policies and sanctuary jurisdictions, noting that Contreras-Suarez should not have been released into the U.S. after the initial illegal entry.
Meanwhile, the plea deal has sparked widespread outrage from victims’ rights advocates and legal observers, who described the six-month sentence, even with time served, as extraordinarily low for second-degree rape involving a minor.
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