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Howard Beach man charged in Forest Park attempted rape

Howard Beach man charged in Forest Park attempted rape
By Karen Frantz

Police said they had arrested a man suspected of attempting to rape a 23-year-old woman in Forest Park Friday evening.

Richard Kassebaum, 42, of Howard Beach, was charged with attempted predatory sexual assault, attempted rape and sex abuse, police said. A police spokesman said Kassebaum also had a prior manslaughter conviction in 1990.

The victim was jogging through Forest Park when a man attacked her from behind and zapped her with a stun gun Friday evening, police said. The man attempted to rape her but was scared off by a couple and their dog who stumbled across them, a police spokesman said.

The jogger was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for injuries to her neck after the attack, police said.

Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.