Child rape suspect appears in court

PHILADELPHIA - July 27, 2009 /*Jose Carrasquillo*/ disclosed the diagnosis before waiving a preliminary hearing Monday in the alleged violent assault on an 11-year-old schoolgirl. Neither he nor his lawyer disclosed details of the condition.

Prosecutors believe the 26-year-old Carrasquillo fondled another girl that morning at a bus stop and followed her to school. The 16-year-old testified she saw him in her school cafeteria.

In court the teen said "I looked back and saw him looking at me top to bottom. He kept telling me, 'You sexy, you sexy.'"

Prosecutors are relieved the 11-year-old allegedly kidnapped and raped as she walked to school did not have to testify.

"It's always a good thing when we can spare the victim from having to testify any more often than she absolutely has to," said Assistant District Attorney Catharine Thurston. "But, the time for sparing the victim came before the crime was even committed.

A judge upheld charges related to both girls and set an Aug. 17 arraignment.

Police say they have DNA linking Carrasquillo to the June 1 rape.

Carrasquillo showed no signs of the beating he received at the hands of an angry mob last month. They attacked him and held him for police.

The attack was caught on tape.

Carrasquillo remains behind bars on $10 million bail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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