A shocking incident unfolded on a Queens subway train last month when a repeat offender, Christopher Benitez, punched a 37-year-old pregnant woman in the face. This was just one in a series of similar attacks that Benitez had committed in the past four months, yet he was repeatedly let back out onto the streets to commit more violence.
Benitez, a 33-year-old Brooklyn resident with 16 prior arrests, was arrested for the latest assault on the J train at the Jamaica Center-Parsons-Archer station on February 25. However, prior to this incident, Benitez had attacked multiple women in random subway assaults without facing significant consequences.
In one instance on December 26, Benitez punched a woman on a subway in Queens, was arrested, and then released the same day without bail. Later in the afternoon, he went on to attack another woman in Manhattan. Despite these violent acts, Benitez was not incarcerated, allowing him to continue his pattern of assaults.
One of Benitez’s earlier victims, Elaine Silva, expressed shock and anger that he was not behind bars. Silva, who was assaulted by Benitez on December 26 at the 42nd Street-Bryant Park station, emphasized the fear and frustration she felt knowing that he was free to harm others.
Benitez’s criminal spree began on November 9 when he punched a woman at the Jamaica-Van Wyck subway station in Queens. Despite being arrested, he was granted supervised release due to the nature of the charge. Subsequent attacks in December led to his arrest, release, and eventual bail posting after assaulting Silva in Manhattan.
Despite being out on bail, Benitez continued his criminal behavior, including a fare jumping arrest in Brooklyn in January. He failed to appear in court for his previous attacks, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest. This warrant was active when he was apprehended for the assault on the pregnant woman in February.
Throughout his criminal history, Benitez has faced charges for assault, criminal mischief, and public drinking. The recent attack on the pregnant victim resulted in Benitez being charged with third-degree assault.
As Benitez was led out of the Transit District 20 precinct in Queens, he appeared somber, reflecting on the consequences of his actions. His arraignment for the latest assault was pending, highlighting the ongoing cycle of violence and the need for stricter consequences for repeat offenders like Benitez.
