Former Newport News officer indicted on rape charge

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a former Newport News Police (NNPD) officer with deprivation of rights under color of law for allegedly raping a woman while he was on duty.

According to the indictment, on March 14, Raheem Massiah Askew and another officer, along with Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) from the Newport News Fire Department (NNFD), responded to a report of a woman lying on the ground in a shopping center parking lot in Newport News. Askew asked the victim if she could stand, and then caught the victim by the arm to keep her from falling forward onto the ground as she attempted to stand up. The officers determined the victim's identity, that she had been drinking alcohol, and that she was staying at a hotel in Newport News. Askew asked the victim if he could take her to her hotel and she agreed. The other officer explained to the victim that Askew would take her back to the hotel to meet her friends.

Before entering his NNPD patrol vehicle, Askew allegedly deactivated his body worn camera, in violation of NNPD policy. After arriving at the hotel, Askew entered the victim's room for approximately 17 minutes during which he allegedly engaged in sex with the victim without her consent.

Later that evening, a citizen reported that the victim approached them in a state of undress to request help. Another citizen reported the victim's condition and stated that police had dropped her off earlier. Officers returned to the scene and found the victim disoriented in the parking lot. The victim collapsed and began vomiting, and she was transported by ambulance to Riverside Regional Medical Center by ambulance for treatment.

If convicted, Askew faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk investigated this case with assistance from the Special Victims Unit of the NNPD Major Crimes Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyson Yates and Eric Hurt are prosecuting the case.

Anyone with information relating to this matter is encouraged to contact the Newport News Police Department at 757-928-4233.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District CourtLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-53.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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