Man is sentenced to 8 years in prison for attempted sexual assault in Wburg

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (AP) — An East New York man was sentenced to eight years in prison for breaking into a woman’s Williamsburg home and attempting to sexually assault her while she slept, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Tuesday.

The district attorney said that according to the investigation, on Oct. 11, 2019, Akijah Hall broke into an apartment on Grand Street in Williamsburg and went into the bedroom of a 25-year-old woman who woke up to find him next to her bed, with his hand on hers mouth and his other hand on her breast.

The woman’s roommate came to her defense and struggled with Hall, who fled the scene, leaving behind several of his belongings – including his jacket, wallet and ID card.

The district attorney said Hall filed a report of his missing possessions several hours later and was arrested at his home later that day.

“Today’s verdict ensures that the defendant is held accountable for this terrible crime,” Gonzalez said. “We continue to advocate for justice for survivors of sexual violence and make Brooklyn safer for everyone.”

Hall, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, first-degree attempted sexual conduct and first-degree sexual abuse and was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison and 15 years of post-release supervision, the district attorney said.