NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A suspect accused of sexually assaulting a 52-year-old Queens mother and beating her beyond recognition pleaded not guilty to the brutal attack during a court appearance Thursday.

Surveillance video shows 21-year-old Ronald Williams, a homeless man accused in the suspected rape and attack of the woman last week, CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge reported.

Days of investigating led authorities to a motel in Columbia, South Carolina where Williams was arrested Tuesday on a probation violation.

During Thursday’s appearance at Queens Criminal Court, prosecutors read a statement Williams allegedly gave to police in South Carolina.

“I pushed her down the stairs. I wasn’t going to rape her. I don’t know how her pants got pulled down. I get angry and black out sometimes,” Williams allegedly said.

Prosecutors also disclosed that the victim had been in a coma and had to have eye surgery following the attack. She will also need months of rehab to recover from her injuries, prosecutors said.

Police say the victim is improving and is now stabilized.

Williams is due back in Bronx court Friday to appear on a probation violation from a 2017 assault. In that incident, authorities said he punched a Bronx woman in the face and exposed himself. He plead guilty to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to three years of probation.

“After a week on the run, the defendant has now been taken into custody and faces a long term of incarceration for this horrific crime,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement.

Pleased to announce an arrest in the brutal sex assault of a 52-yr-old woman that occurred in Queens on 4-30-18. In alliance w/ the community & the US Marshals, the unwavering members of @NYPDSVU & the Fugitive Enforcement Div. identified, located & arrested Ronald Williams. pic.twitter.com/cQMPUxKjOv — Chief Dermot F. Shea (@NYPDDetectives) May 8, 2018

Police said Williams sexually assaulted and beat the woman so badly, she was unrecognizable and was left unconscious in a stairwell near 72nd Road and Kissena Boulevard.

Officials said Williams randomly attacked the woman shortly after she dropped her child off at a nearby school.

“I feel very, very, very angry about this,” said the victim’s friend, Jingyi Song. “When I heard about it, I almost fainted.”

People in the neighborhood say they finally feel more at ease knowing a suspect is in custody.

“If he already did this before, how was he not easily known, like OK this guy did this before. How did he come out of jail so easily?” said resident Samira Daoud. “He should be in jail for life. He deserves it, a woman’s face was unrecognizable, her family is hurt, she’s hurt.”

“I was relieved my sister was relieved too,” said resident Robin Simon.

“I know I’m relieved because I walk my son to school every day,” said resident Judith Devieux. “Happy that he’s caught and things can settle down over here now.”