Ralph Toro, a level 3 sex offender, has been charged with attempted robbery and sex abuse in the December 17 attack.
It happened inside an apartment building at 62nd Drive and 108th Street in Forest Hills.
He allegedly followed a 51-year-old woman into the elevator and took out a knife.
ALSO READ | Road rage may have led to deadly shooting in the Bronx
Man fatally shot in car in Bronx was victim of road rage: NYPD
The victim emptied her belongings onto the floor, and police say Toro searched her body for additional property.
Then, the victim says Toro began pulling down her pants and sexually assaulting her.
She was able to push the suspect out of the elevator to get away. The victim was taken to an area hospital in stable condition.
Toro allegedly made off with nothing.
He was later arrested at a Queens hotel where registered sex offenders are placed following their release.
He was arrested wearing the same clothes he had on during the attack of the 51-year-old woman, according to police.
Toro was paroled in February after serving 35 years of a 20-years-to-life sentence.
He has numerous prior arrests, including a Jan. 9, 1986 attack on a 13-year-old girl and 29-year-old woman.
He was convicted in June 1987. The same month, he was arrested on first-degree robbery and burglary, and third-degree grand larceny charges.
ALSO READ | Where to find a COVID test
Mayor vows more testing as UFT warns against school reopening
----------
* More Queens news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube