New Jersey Man Convicted of Forcing Couples to Have Sex at Gunpoint

Prosecutors are aware of at least six such attacks at four different motels.

A man accused of targeting couples at New Jersey motels and forcing them to have sex at gunpoint before he robbed them has been convicted on numerous counts.

Union County prosecutors say Rasheed Powell faces a possible life term when he's sentenced May 4. The 42-year-old Elizabeth man was convicted Friday on 60 counts, including aggravated sexual assault and robbery charges.

Prosecutors say the assaults occurred during a two-month period in 2012 at motels in Linden and Elizabeth.

They say Powell stalked couples as they entered their rooms, then forced his way inside and made them perform sexual acts on each other. He then locked the men up in the bathroom and sexually assault the women.

Authorities used DNA to identify Powell as a suspect. He was arrested when he made a municipal court appearance for an unrelated motor vehicle citation.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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