This story was originally published at 1:30 p.m. on April 27 and was updated at 2:20 p.m.
ITHACA, N.Y. – A homeless man was arrested on Monday after police say he forcibly touched a woman while riding a public transit bus. However, the charges were later dismissed after police found the woman’s testimony was not credible, his attorney said.
Khalid H. Faraj, 22, had been charged with felony first-degree sex abuse. Deputies from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release they responded to 40 Catherwood Rd. in the Village of Lansing around 5 p.m. on Monday, where the woman reported she had been riding the bus when a male stranger began touching her inappropriately.
The victim told deputies that despite her attempts to stop Faraj, he continued to touch her. The woman said she got off at the nearest bus stop and called the police. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found Faraj and placed him under arrest.
However, Faraj’s attorney Kristine Shaw said in the investigation that followed, police found that the woman’s story may have been made up.
“All charges against (Faraj) have been dismissed based on an investigation which led us to believe the allegations against him were not true,” Shaw said.
According to Shaw, the charges were reduced then dismissed by 3 p.m. on Thursday in the Town of Lansing Court. The investigation is ongoing.