BUFFALO — A 33-year-old Buffalo man was indicted by a Grand Jury on Friday on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, and two counts of predatory sexual assault.
The indictment of Timothy DiCenzo stems from the November 3, 2015 daylight rape of a woman near Hillery Park Elementary School and a May 7, 2013 rape of a woman at Southside Elementary School.
DiCenzo was identified as the perpetrator in both rapes after DNA testing positively linked him to the crimes. Following his arrest, police attempted to interview DiCenzo, but were unable to do so when he flung himself from the third story interview room window at police headquarters.
DiCenzo pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller.
DA Flaherty praised the work of the Buffalo Police Detectives in the Sex Offense Squad and made special mention of the patrol officers of the Buffalo Police Department’s A District.
“The big break in this case, in developing the defendant as a suspect, came from the patrol officers and their supervisors who are engaged in and familiar with the communities they protect,” says Acting DA Flaherty. “Because these officers consistently take the time to talk to the residents on a daily basis and to care about the people who live there and what goes on, they were quickly able to focus in on a suspect that DNA testing confirmed to be the rapist.”
