The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
Homeless convicted sex offender terrorizes women in the East Village: ‘Ticking time bomb’
Fritz Marseille — who spent five months in jail last year for allegedly groping two women — loiters between East 3rd Street and East 5th Street along Second Avenue, allegedly accosting …
nypost.com
Homeless convicted sex offender terrorizes women in the East Village: ‘Ticking time bomb’
By
Dean Balsamini and
Helayne Seidman
July 15, 2023 1:11pm
Updated
A homeless, convicted sex offender has been terrorizing women in the East Village – and they’ve reached out to The Post for help.
Fritz Marseille — who spent five months in jail last year for allegedly groping two women — hangs out between East 3rd Street and East 5th Street along Second Avenue, allegedly accosting women who ignore his advances, witnesses said.
But he took his alleged misdeeds to another level when he lurked behind Kristen Booth last month and declared, “I’m going to f–king rape you,” the shaken digital artist told The Post this week.
Booth, 49, who was with neighbor Christine Rucci, 60, told Marseille, 38, to “get the f–k away from me!” and the two women screamed “rapist!” to get the attention of others and ward off Marseille during the June 17 incident on the corner of East 5th and Second Avenue.
Kristen Booth says she carries pepper spray because she fears Fritz Marseille (above).Helayne Seidman 
Marseille’s alleged antics include drug dealing, urinating, defecating, and masturbating in and around the East 5th Street buildings of multiple concerned women.Helayne Seidman 
Booth last month lodged a complaint against Marseille with the NYPD, one of five she’s filed against him since September 2020. Helayne Seidman“It’s very clear he does have some mental health and addiction issues. He is homeless. But I’m at critical mass with that excusing the fact that he is a criminal. He’s followed me before,” Booth said, noting she now carries pepper spray.
Booth lodged a complaint against Marseille with the NYPD, one of five she’s filed against him since Sept. 2020.
Rucci, who carries a safety alarm, said Marseille’s revolting antics include drug dealing, urinating, defecating, and masturbating in and around their East 5th Street buildings. She called him a “predator” and a “ticking time bomb.”
The area where Fritz Marseille is accused of accosting women. Helayne SeidmanMarseille is “insane,” said a worker at nearby Cooper’s Craft & Kitchen, who noted a number of frightened women have ducked into the pub to escape the vagrant’s verbal abuse.
Lately, the homeless man has become “more aggressive,” said an employee at Coffee Project on East 5th.
Local cops from the 9th Precinct “do nothing,” fumed Rucci, who claims to have been verbally abused by Marseille.
Marseille has been arrested twice for groping women, the NYPD said.Helayne Seidman“We live on a police block which should be the safest block in this area and it’s not and that’s sad,” she said.
Marseille has seven sealed cases, according to the state Office of Court Administration. He’s been arrested twice, according to the NYPD, for groping the rear ends of two different women and pleaded guilty in both cases.
Marseille was required to complete a counseling program with Queens Counseling for Change — who said its clientele includes individuals with “problematic sexual behaviors” and “anger management issues” — according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Marseille camped out on East 5th Street.Helayne Seidman 
Booth carries pepper spray since her June brush with Marseille.Helayne SeidmanMarseille failed to appear in court on June 1 for compliance and there is now a warrant out for his arrest, authorities said.
“It’s only a matter of time before it goes beyond harassment and groping and when it escalates to rape, then the Mayor, NYPD, the DA’s office, and judges will take notice,” Rucci seethed, adding, “I for one don’t want to wait.”