Soft-on-Crime Judge Frees Suspect—30 Minutes Later, Police Say He Sexually Assaulted 3 Women and 2 Girls

In a shocking turn of events that has reignited debates over criminal justice reform, Jason Ayala, 31, was released by Judge Robert Rosenthal only to allegedly commit a series of sexual assaults mere hours later. Ayala, who had been charged with two counts of robbery after attacking and robbing two men on January 12, was set free without bail, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and others concerned with public safety.

According to reports from the New York Post, Ayala’s freedom was short-lived but devastating. Just a day after his release, he embarked on a disturbing spree within a public housing project. His first victim was a 14-year-old girl, whom he allegedly groped in the lobby of the building. Moving quickly, Ayala then targeted a 35-year-old woman at another project, and within 15 minutes, he was back at the original site, where he assaulted a 49-year-old woman. The spree continued as he allegedly molested a 12-year-old girl and her 32-year-old mother in an elevator, all within a span of 30 minutes.

“The next day, the day after he was arraigned on the earlier robbery arrest, he victimized five additional females in Manhattan,” Commissioner Tisch stated, highlighting the immediate danger Ayala posed upon his release. She continued, “All of the arrests were for forcibly touching intimate parts and endangerment. He shouldn’t have been out on our streets the next day doing that.”

This incident has brought to light the ongoing issue of what Tisch refers to as the “revolving door of our criminal justice system,” where violent and repeat offenders are released back into the community with little to no consequence. Ayala, with a criminal history dating back to 2004, including charges for drug-related offenses, assault, and robbery, was yet again given the opportunity to offend.

Following his latest spree, Ayala faced additional charges including five counts of forcible touching, one count of sexual abuse, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. In response, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg pushed for a substantial bail of $200,000 cash or $600,000 bond, but Judge Rosenthal, appointed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, set bail at a significantly lower $50,000 cash and $150,000 bond, leading to Ayala’s detention at Riker’s Island.

The reaction from the community has been one of frustration and fear. Juana Catalan, a 50-year-old resident of the housing project, expressed her dismay, “How are they going to let a criminal go and get away with that? That is just really insane to me.”

The broader implications of this case are reflected in the latest crime statistics from New York City, which show a troubling 50 percent increase in rapes and a 20.7 percent rise in other sex crimes since the beginning of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Commissioner Tisch has been vocal about the need for judicial reform, stating, “We need our judges to step up and do the right thing, especially in cases where bail is eligible and bail is called for, to keep dangerous criminals off the streets.”

This incident underscores the urgent need for a reassessment of how bail decisions are made, particularly in cases involving violent offenders with extensive criminal records, to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.

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