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Handyman arrested after sexual assault
A Buffalo man, who worked as a handyman for an elderly Roycroft Boulevard woman, was arrested by Cheektowaga police Tuesday after he robbed, assaulted and sexually abused the woman.
Police arrested Fay M. Holliday, 64, of Fennimore Avenue shortly before 7 p.m.
An investigation revealed that Holliday, who is a Level-3 sex offender, worked as a handyman for an 82-year-old woman at her Roycroft home. On Tuesday, Holiday, known to the victim as “Doc” Holliday, arrived at the location to work on various tasks.
However, after Holliday asked the victim for a glass of water and the victim went to the kitchen, Holliday reportedly struck the victim on the back of her head, causing lacerations. Holliday then dragged the victim into a bedroom and sexually assaulted her.
“She was afraid for her life at this point,” said Cheektowaga Police Detective Captain James Morath.
After Holliday located and took $700 from the victim, the victim freed herself from the bindings in which Holliday had placed her and called neighbors, who then contacted police.
Officers used the victim’s address book to obtain information on Holliday.
Police at first did not find Holliday at his address, but after waiting for a brief period, observed Holiday’s vehicle pull up to his residence. Officers John Wanat, David Filipski, Jonathan Ober and Patrick Chludlinski, who investigated the case, observed blood on Holliday’s clothing, and the victim identified Holiday as the person who had committed the crime.
Morath described the incident as “disturbing.”
“It’s a heinous crime made worse by the fact that (the victim) knew him and that she’s a helpless 82-year-old woman,” Morath said. “With assistance from her neighbors, as well as good work by our police officers and detectives, we made the arrest.”
Holliday faces first-degree charges of robbery, assault, sexual abuse and petit larceny. He was arraigned in front of Town Justice Ronald Kolbert. Bail was set at $100,000, or $250,000 bond. Holliday has a felony hearing scheduled for December 26 in Cheektowaga Town Court.
In August 1975, Holliday was convicted in Buffalo City Court on first-degree charges of rape and sodomy of a 24-year-old woman, both Class B felonies.
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