Man pleads innocent to 3 E. Orange attacks

An East Orange man pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman at knifepoint in March, after accosting two younger girls earlier that morning, prosecutors said.

In each case, 27-year-old Gerrod Little is accused of forcing three girls headed for school into his Cadillac DeVille and attacking them, authorities said.

Little, who has been in jail since he was arrested a week after the March 20 attacks, appeared before Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin in Newark yesterday afternoon.

Through his court-appointed attorney, Little pleaded not guilty to all 15 counts against him, involving the three victims. Little, handcuffed and wearing a green prison jumpsuit, did not speak during the brief hearing. His attorney, Jennifer Sellitti, said it was too early to give a statement regarding her client.

The charges include first-degree kidnapping and attempted kidnapping, second-degree luring, aggravated assault and attempted aggravated sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and making terroristic threats.

Little faces up to life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges, said Robert Laurino, Essex County chief assistant prosecutor. An offer by the prosecutor's office of 30 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea has not been addressed, Sellitti said.

The attacks, which happened in the space of two hours, put city residents on edge, Laurino said, adding that all three victims had been on their way to school that day.

Little was arrested about a week later, at a relative's home in Elizabeth, identified with the help of DNA evidence and composite sketches, Laurino said.

In the first alleged incident, about 7 a.m., Little approached an 11-year-old girl in his car on Elmwood Avenue and Oak Street. He told her to get inside, authorities said, and threatened he had a knife. But Little was scared away by someone at a nearby building window, and the victim fled unharmed.

About 50 minutes later and two blocks away, on Shepard and Elmwood avenues, Little allegedly approached a 14-year-old girl. He grabbed her wrist and pushed a knife to her neck, Laurino told the judge yesterday.

Little forced the girl into the Cadillac, which was playing a pornographic movie on its DVD player, Laurino said. The girl escaped "by jumping out of the moving vehicle," he said, adding that she received minor injuries.

The final reported incident, involving the 18-year-old woman, happened at 9 a.m., when she was approached at Prospect Street and Springdale Avenue. Little threatened her with a knife, forced the victim into his car and drove her to a nearby alley, where she was sexually assaulted, Laurino said.

DNA gathered at the scene identified Little, who has prior convictions for theft and drug possession.

He is being held at Essex County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail.

Alexi Friedman may be reached at (973) 642-0341 or afriedman@starledger.com.