Accused Boystown Attacker Held Without Bail

Victim says she was attacked Monday afternoon while walking on the 3500 block of North Halsted Street

A Cook County judge on Wednesday ordered a former YMCA employee held without bail in connection with the sexual assault of a woman in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood earlier this week.

Marcus Lynch, of the 4700 block of South Loomis Boulevard, faces single counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon and armed robbery.

In court, a prosecutor said Lynch followed a 22-year-old woman from a convenience store at about 4:30 Monday afternoon and ran up to her in an alley on the 3500 block of North Halsted Street. He wrapped his arms around the woman and put a double-bladed knife to her neck as he dragged his victim into a garage and sexually assaulted her.

The woman, who was not publicly identified because she may be the victim of a sex crime, was reportedly able to text her boyfriend before Lynch ran off with the woman's purse and cell phone.

The victim went to a coffee shop for help, the prosecutor said.

Authorities said Lynch admitted to the crime and said they found a knife on him. Lynch was identified through video surveillance in the area, police said.

A public defender said Lynch worked at a Chicago-area YMCA within the past yaer as a personal trainer and nutritionist.

A YMCA spokesperson, however, said Lynch worked as a part-time janitor at the facility.

Lynch's next court date was scheduled for May 6.

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