BROOKLINE - A homeless drifter who made pocket change by lugging baggage at Logan Airport was arraigned yesterday morning on a charge of attempting to rape a woman earlier this week after leaving a Green Line train in Brookline.
Samuel Prado, 23, arrived in Boston about two weeks ago from New York City, according to a court psychologist who evaluated the suspect for mental competency. Based on the psychologist's evaluation, a Brookline District Court judge ruled that Prado was capable of standing trial.
According to police, Prado started staring at the 25-year-old victim soon after she boarded the Green Line train early Wednesday morning at Government Center, sitting directly across the aisle in the nearly empty trolley at 12:30 a.m. Prado moved to sit next to her, and she rebuffed his attempts at conversation. When she got off at the Brookline Hills station, she called her mother, fearing that the suspect was following her. Police said that's when Prado grabbed her from behind and took the cellphone.
The woman's mother heard her daughter say, "Leave me alone," and the mother called police. Police said Prado pulled the woman into a driveway on Cypress Street and tried to rape her. The woman screamed and struggled and was able to escape, running to the nearest house, where the occupant ushered her inside.
Police said that during the incident, the suspect told the victim his name was Sammy Prada. Later in the evening, State Police were notified that a man fitting the description of the rape suspect was at Logan Airport.
The psychologist told the court that Prado has drifted from major cities, including Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Prado told the psychologist he has not had any contact with his family for many years. While the psychologist determined that Prado appeared competent to stand trial, he advised the court that Prado may have difficulty understanding the concept of guilt and innocence and may have cognitive limitations.
The psychologist testified, "I am concerned about his minimal understanding of certain concepts."
The psychologist said Prado told him that he left New York because Boston was quieter.
Prado pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted rape, indecent assault and battery and intimidating a witness. He was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
