Kenyan man sentenced to 20 years in US prison for sexual assault of 70-year-old woman

A Kenyan citizen will spend the next two decades behind bars in a U.S. prison for sexually assaulting a 70-year-old woman who worked as a receptionist at an apartment building last year.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement Friday that Brian Kibiwot Chuchuney was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the attack.

The incident occurred on December 17, 2023, when the victim was working during the night shift.

According to official documents, Chuchuney, who was homeless and undocumented at the time, knocked on the window of the complex around 4:30 a.m. and the woman, mistakenly believing Chuchuney lived in the building, let him in.

Once inside, Chuchuney asked a few seemingly innocent questions, asking if he could go to the bathroom before asking for water.

As the woman got him water, Chuchuney followed the unsuspecting victim and attempted to sexually assault her before sexually assaulting her, according to court documents.

In another act of humiliation, the perpetrator stole the victim’s clothing before fleeing the scene, the court heard.

Police tracked down Chuchuney and arrested him hours after the brutal attack.

According to authorities, Chuchuney poses a significant threat to public safety.

District Attorney Mitchell said his actions and lack of remorse showed he was a danger to the community.

“This defendant’s heinous actions and lack of remorse make it clear that he poses a significant danger to the community,” Mitchell said.

“Thanks to the work of Assistant District Attorney Maren Soreson, he will now spend decades in prison and face the consequences of his actions.”

Chuchuney pleaded guilty in July to one count of kidnapping and two counts of attempted sexual assault.

His sentence includes 20 years in prison for kidnapping and a life sentence for attempted sexual assault.

According to the district attorney, the victim’s statement reflects the deep suffering caused by Chuchuney’s actions.

She describes the physical, financial and emotional damage of the attack, highlighting how it destroyed her life and her ability to work and deeply affected her family.

Following the incident, community stakeholders called for stricter security protocols, including improved screening practices for building entry and increased sexual violence prevention education.

“Your cruelty has hurt me physically and financially, but most of all, the emotional blow you have inflicted on me has destroyed my life and ability to work, and severely injured my family,” reads the impact statement.

It was not immediately clear where the perpetrator lived in Kenya before illegally emigrating to the United States.