Accused denies raping 13-year-old girl

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Strong denials from the Buffalo man who is charged with raping a 13-year-old runaway and holding her captive.

Michael Abdallah's attorney Frank Bogulski says a 13-year-old runaway is making a false case against his client. That she was given a place to stay, but was not abused.

"The charges are utterly baseless," said Bogulski.

The charges against Michael Abdallah, that he kept a 13-year-old girl locked in his house and had sex with the runaway for over a year, will not hold up in court, says his attorney Bogulski.

Bogulski explained, "The charges that my client held her hostage and repeatedly raped her are absolutely baseless. There's no truth to this. They are quite honestly fiction."

One neighbor, who didn't want to give his last name, said he saw the 13-year-old on many occasions.

"I seen her at the store one time. I was in the store. I seen her, and then I seen her right, not too far from here, a couple of houses down just walkin' down the street and that. Ya know I would say hello to her one time. She said hi, and that's about what I encountered with her. She was alone, about seven months ago," said David.

Sources say the 13-year-old would sometimes babysit
for Michael's 1-year-old son, and that under her watch, the child suffered a serious burn on his hand. When the child was taken by Michael to Women and Children's Hospital, that's when the investigation began.

Bogulski said, "When Child Protective Services started looking at her, the complainant, she began to blame somebody else for what happened. She tried to shift blame onto my client."

Attorney Bogulski said Michael Abdallah took in the runaway and sometimes entrusted the runaway with the care of his baby son, but did not abuse the 13-year-old.

"There's a big difference being an invited guest in one's home and being held hostage in someone's house," said Bogulski.