Suspect arrested in att. rape

University Police arrested a West Philadelphia man Friday in connection with the March 2 attempted rape of a female University employee on 36th Street between Locust and Spruce streets, University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said yesterday. According to Kuprevich, the man, 34-year-old James Bernard Williams, of the 4600 block of West Minister Street, was arraigned on seven counts, including attempted rape and aggravated assault on Friday and is being held at the Philadelphia Police detention center. Kuprevich also said that Williams is already awaiting sentencing for an involuntary manslaughter conviction. The commissioner said he hoped that a conviction for attempted rape would insure that Williams would be in jail for several years. "I'm hoping that we won't see this guy on the street for a very long time," Kuprevich said. This is the second time this semester University Police have made an arrest in an alleged sexual assault case. According to Kuprevich, University Police officers Nick Viola and John Washington were on an early morning patrol around 36th and Locust streets a week after the attempted rape, when they spotted a black man who fit the description and composite sketch of the attempted rapist. Officers Viola and Washington took the man into headquarters where he was interviewed by University Police Detective Supervisor Mike Carroll. Kuprevich said the victim of the attack had gone home for spring break, however, and police could not make a positive identification and were forced to release Williams. Over spring break, University Police and the Philadelphia Police's Sex Crimes Division tried to contact the victim at her home, hoping to set up a photo line-up even if they had to travel out of state. But attempts to reach her were unsuccessful. When the University employee returned to campus on March 20, police set up a photo line-up in which the victim positively identified Williams as her assailant. Kuprevich said that a warrant was obtained and Williams was arrested last Friday and charged with one count of attempted rape, one count of aggravated assault, and five misdemeanor charges including indecent assault and reckless endangerment. No trial date has been set yet, but Kuprevich expected that Williams would undergo a preliminary hearing within the next week. Kuprevich praised the University employee, saying that without her help, an arrest could not have been made. "The cooperation of the victim and her willingness to come forward to work with police and victim support services is really what made this come together," Kuprevich said. "It's a real credit to her." Kuprevich also lauded officers Viola and Washington for their work in alertly patrolling the area and spotting a possible suspect. Kuprevich also praised the officers at Philadelphia Sex Crimes for their help in the area of victim support as well as for their help in expediting Williams' arrest. "Everyone did one heck of a job of good policing," Kuprevich said. "It was truly a job well done."