Police arrested a maintenance worker at an upstate New York hotel for allegedly using his master key to gain access to a guest's room and sexually assaulting her as she slept.
Authorities say 38-year-old Hector Ixcopal, who worked at the Days Inn on Route 59 in Nanuet and lives in a room there, allegedly entered the room of a guest shortly before 1:30 a.m. Friday and began sexually assaulting the woman sleeping inside.
At some point, the woman woke up and other hotel guests came to her aid; they restrained the hotel worker until police arrived, authorities said.
"They wind up finding Mr. Ixcopal, and they restrained him until police arrived," said Clarkstown Police Sgt. JoAnne Fratianni.
Asked about the bruises on Ixcopal's face, seen in his mugshot, Fratianni said, "Well, the report is that while they were restraining him, he fell to the ground and sustained an orbital injury."
Police say the victim recognized her attacker because she had encountered him in the hotel hours before the attack. She was treated at the hospital and released.
"I'm shocked," said hotel manager Tom Patel. "I'm shocked and I'm upset and I'm mad, too. If he has done this, then he's done."
Ixcopal was charged with first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree burglary, all felony charges.
Information on an attorney for him wasn't immediately available.
