The mother of a New York girl who was allegedly raped in a swimming hole says the man was not the only one at the pool.
In the US, the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Criminal Intelligence Unit has launched an investigation into the allegations against 27-year old Michael Mika.
Mika, of South Carolina, has been charged with two counts of first-degree rape and one count of first degree criminal sexual contact.
The charges stem from a 10th-degree sexual assault in the pool at the Plaza Hotel in the Manhattan borough of New York, in November 2017.
Mikas family told the ABC the man’s father has since died, but it was not clear if he was at the residence when the alleged rape took place.
He also denied any knowledge of the incident, saying he did not know the victim.
The New York City Police Department (NYCPD) and the NYPD Criminal Intelligence Division (CID) are investigating.
Mikes father told reporters the man who was charged was not at the property when the incident took place, but the woman was at home when the rape occurred.
He said she has been in touch with authorities.
“This man is a good family man.
He’s a good person,” he said.”
The victim and I, like I said, are just trying to make sure this doesn’t happen to anybody else.”
Mika had been living with his parents in Brooklyn, New York.
He has not been charged in the case.
The family said he did work at the hotel and that they were told he was in the process of being fired.
A lawyer for the family told ABC the family was unaware of the allegations.
The case is expected to go to trial in 2018.ABC/wires