Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA - National Coalition ...

HATE, VIOLENCE, AND DEATH ON MAIN STREET USA2008St. Petersburg, FloridaMan attacks homeless couple sleeping at a campsiteFebruary 15: Jesus Escudero, 31, was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida for attacking a homelesscouple at about 1 a.m. Detectives suspect Escudero of approaching the couple, who were sleepingat a campsite, <strong>and</strong> attacking the man, 48, with a brick. Escudero then struck the woman, 42, in thehead. The male victim attempted to call 911, but when he came back to the campsite he learnedthat the female victim had been raped <strong>and</strong> that the attacker had fled. Deputy Jake Viano <strong>and</strong> hissearch dog found Escudero a half hour after arriving at the scene of the crime. Escudero wasarrested <strong>and</strong> charged with two counts of aggravated battery, one count of sexual battery, battery ona law enforcement officer, petty theft, <strong>and</strong> providing a false name to a police officer. He was alsoarrested on an outst<strong>and</strong>ing warrant for failing to appear in court on a gr<strong>and</strong> theft charge. The femalevictim was transported to a hospital, but the male victim refused treatment. According to Sgt. JimBorder, “there was no indication that the suspect <strong>and</strong> the victims were acquainted before the attacktook place”.SEPTEMBERPompano Beach, FloridaMan Rapes Homeless WomanSeptember 2: The Broward County Sheriff’s Office reported that Guy Cherubin, 31, was chargedfor armed sexual battery against a 48 year-old homeless woman on the night of September 2 nd . At 5a.m. that morning, BSO detectives said, Cherubin, “attacked <strong>and</strong> raped a homeless woman inPompano Beach … he covered the 48 year-old woman’s face, forced her to the ground <strong>and</strong> placed aknife against her side, threatening to kill her if she didn’t have sex with him.” Cherubin wasinvolved in a similar attack a few days earlier at which time he kicked <strong>and</strong> raped a 39 year-old BocaRaton homeless woman, leaving her with several broken ribs. He is being held without bond in theBroward County Sheriff's Office.71