MA Man Indicted On Rape Charges For Cape Cod Assault

SANDWICH, MA — A 70-year-old Massachusetts man was indicted on charges that he sexually assaults a 20-year-old woman from Sandwich, officials announced.

Elie Jammal, 71, of Concord, Mass., was indicted on charges of rape and two counts of assault and battery of a person over 14 stemming from a July 9 assault.

On July 9, the 20-year-old victim was dining at an establishment in the town of Sandwich when she left her table to use the restroom. In the restroom hallway, the victim encountered Jammal, who was also dining at the restaurant but was a stranger to the victim, officials said.

"Jammal commented on how beautiful the victim was, pushed her up against the wall in the bathroom hallway, sexually assaulted the victim, and demanded that the victim put her cell phone number into his phone," the Cape and Islands District Attorney said, in a news release.

The victim was able to escape into the women’s restroom, but Jammal followed her inside and again sexually assaulted her, officials said.

Jammal left the restroom and the victim attempted to make several calls on her smartwatch for help.

A friend of the victim went to check on her in the bathroom, noticing her extended absence, and found her hiding in one of the bathroom stalls "extremely upset."

Jammal was confronted by the victim’s mother and others outside of the restaurant, where he claimed that the victim "had come on to him," officials said.

Police were contacted but Jammal had already driven away from the restaurant before they arrived.

Jammal is set to appear for an arraignment at a future date that has yet to be announced.