Nepo baby son of Pulitzer-winning novelist charged with brutal rape
The son of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon has been charged with brutal rape, as prosecutors say he choked and beat the victim while he molested her.
Abraham Chabon, 20, was charged on June 12 with second-degree strangulation and first-degree rape in connection with the alleged January 25, 2024 attack, the New York Post reports.
Prosecutors say the New York University student grabbed the victim by the neck, constricting her airway and making it difficult for her to breathe.
Chabon then allegedly carried the victim to a bed, where Manhattan prosecutors say he raped the woman and 'struck [her] repeatedly in the face... causing stupor and loss of vision in one eye.'
But Chabon maintained his innocence as he appeared in court for the second time on Wednesday.
'Abe is innocent and was as shocked by these false allegations as anyone,' his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, told the Post.
She noted that her client 'has strong family support and a devoted partner, who all believe in his innocence.
'We hope the prosecutors' investigation reveal his innocence quickly,' Chaudhry continued. 'Meanwhile, we prepare to fiercely fight this false allegation and clear this gentle young man's name.'
Chabon is now out on bail, after Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Kacie Lally set his bail last week at $45,000 cash or $150,000 bond.
The amount was not an issue for the nepo baby, whose mother is Israeli-American novelist Ayelet Waldman, and whose father is known for his books Wonder Boys and Telegraph Avenue.
The elder Chabon also received a 2001 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2012.
His son now faces a prison sentence of five to 25 years if he were to be convicted on the rape charge.
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