BUFFALO – A Cheektowaga man is facing felony charges after a rideshare driver told authorities he engaged in unwanted sexual contact with her this past January.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn’s office tells Cheektowaga Chronicle that James Krawczyk, 49, was arraigned on one count of Attempted Rape in the First Degree, a Class “C” felony, and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class “D” felony.
Mr. Flynn’s office says that around 3 am on January 13, 2019, Mr. Krawczyk was a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle when he attempted to engage in sexual intercourse with the female driver by forcible compulsion and subjected the victim to sexual contact on Caprice Drive.
He was arraigned before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice James Speyer on March 20, 2019. The court ordered a forensic evaluation at the arraignment.
Mr. Krawcyzk returned to court Monday, and the Erie County Department of Mental Health requested more time to complete the evaluation.
He is scheduled to return on Tuesday, April 16 at 8:30 a.m. He remains remanded without bail.
If convicted on the charges, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katharine S. Lavin of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.
A jury trial was later held before State Supreme Court Justice William Boller. Mr. Krawczyk was found not guilty of Attempted Rape in the 1st Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree and was acquitted on November 1, 2019.
Records relating to the case were sealed and charges dismissed under New York State law.