‘Gloved beast’ rapist is charged with a misdemeanor

A registered sex offender who has been described as a ‘gloved beast’ who need intervention from the governor of New York to stay in jail has been charged with a misdemeanor. 

Bui Van Phu, 55, a registered sex offender who has spent six years in prison with lifetime parole, appeared in Bronx Criminal Court Thursday.

Court records obtained by DailyMail.com indicate Phu’s charges are now third-degree assault and second-degree harassment. 

The basis of the charges is because Phu ‘intentionally (caused) physical injury and with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person.’

Jesus Cortes, 52, was left with a fractured skull and a brain bleed after the attack by Van Phu in the Bronx on August 12. 

Bronx DA Darcel Clark said in a statement, ‘The defendant, a parolee, allegedly struck a man once, and he fell, suffering terrible injuries. An investigation led to the defendant being charged with second-degree Assault. Fortunately, the victim is progressing in his recovery. I have met with him and his family and we are providing crime victims services to them as well.’

DailyMail.com has reached out to New York Governor Kathy Hochul for comment.  

Bui Van Phu, 55, a registered sex offender who has spent six years in prison with lifetime parole, left Bronx Criminal Court on supervised release without bail Thursday

Van Phu was arraigned before George Vilegas (pictured) in Bronx Supreme Court

Court records obtained by DailyMail.com indicate Phu’s charges are now third-degree assault and second-degree harassment

The basis of the charges is because Phu ‘intentionally (caused) physical injury and with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person’

Bui was initially freed without bail by prosecutors who reduced his charges to a misdemeanor after the terrifying assault was caught on video

Van Phu was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after punching a diner, fracturing his skull and causing a brain bleed

Bail was set for $100,000 cash for Van Phu but he did not have to remain in custody

Phu is a registered sex offender who was convicted for raping a woman at gunpoint on December 24, 1994, according to court records viewed by DailyMail.com. Above, a gallery of mugshots available on his sex offender profile

Jesus Cortes, 52, (left) suffered a a fractured skull and a brain bleed after the attack by Van Phu Bui, 55,  (right) earlier this year

Bui was initially freed without bail by prosecutors who reduced his charges to a misdemeanor after the terrifying assault was caught on video.

They claimed that the evidence would only allow the misdemeanor charges at the time, despite police issuing the surveillance footage.

However he was then thrown in jail after New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged prosecutors to upgrade charges against him.

She claimed that the attack and arrest was a violation of his lifetime parole for the sex conviction.

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office had asked a grand jury to upgrade his charges to a felony.

Juan Cortes, the victim’s brother, was in attendance at the hearing.  

Juan Cortes, the victim’s brother, was in attendance at the hearing

Jesus Cortes, 52, Juan’s brother was left with a fractured skull and a brain bleed after the attack by Van Phu in the Bronx on August 12