Police seek help in rape case
Plattsburgh-based state police arrested two Saranac Lake men Thursday for allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman in a Plattsburgh hotel.
State police Troop B spokeswoman Jennifer Fleishman told the Enterprise that Reginald Normil and Fernando J. Francois, both 22, used the “Meet Me” application to meet the victim. App users can enter their ZIP codes to chat with and meet people in their area.
Normil and Francois allegedly met the victim in a Plattsburgh hotel on June 21, then gave her alcohol before sexually assaulting her.
Fleishman said Normil and Francois live together in Saranac Lake, where they attended and played soccer for North Country Community College. Both are originally from Lake Worth, Florida.
Police arrested them Thursday.
Plattsburgh state police Investigator Rebecca Finn is investigating the case.
“Her (Finn’s) concern is that, since they are from the Saranac Lake area, based on her investigation, there may be more victims,” Fleishman said. “She thinks Normil may have used this app to potentially lure more victims.”
Police charged Normil with first-degree rape, a felony, and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, third-degree assault and first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, all misdemeanors. Francois was charged with second-degree unlawful imprisonment, forcible touching and first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, all misdemeanors.
Normil and Francois were arraigned in Plattsburgh Town Court and remanded to Clinton County Jail, where they remained this morning. Normil is being held in lieu of $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond, and Francois is being held in lieu of $3,000 cash or $6,000 bond.
State police ask that anyone with information contact Finn at 518-563-3761.
Police seek help in rape case
Plattsburgh-based state police arrested two Saranac Lake men Thursday for allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman in a Plattsburgh hotel.
Ray Brook state police public information officer Jennifer Fleishman told the Enterprise that Reginald Normil and Fernando J. Francois, both 22, used the “Meet Me” application to meet the victim. App users can enter their ZIP code to chat with and meet people in their area.
Normil and Francois allegedly met the victim in a Plattsburgh hotel on June 21, then gave her alcohol before sexually assaulting her.
Fleishman said Normil and Francois live together in Saranac Lake. Police arrested them Thursday.
Plattsburgh state police Investigator Rebecca Finn is investigating the case.
“Her (Finn’s) concern is that, since they are from the Saranac Lake area, based on her investigation, there may be more victims,” Fleishman said. “She thinks Normil may have used this app to potentially lure more victims.”
Police charged Normil with first-degree rape, a felony, and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, third-degree assault and first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, all misdemeanors. Francois was charged with second-degree unlawful imprisonment, forcible touching and first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, all misdemeanors.
Normil and Francois were arraigned in Plattsburgh Town Court and remanded to Clinton County Jail. Normil is being held in lieu of $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond, and Francois is being held in lieu of $3,000 cash or $6,000 bond.
State police ask that anyone with information contact Finn at 518- 563-3761.
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