The man who attacked a representative of the Islamic State outside a house of worship in Connecticut pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted sexual assault and other charges in a plea deal that sentenced him to five years in prison.
Andrei Desmond, 30, appeared in Hartford Superior Court in connection with the June 2023 attack on Rep. Mariam Khan, the first Muslim to serve in the state House of Representatives. Hearst has pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree sexual assault, attempted first-degree strangulation and risk of injury to a minor, all felonies, Hearst Connecticut Media Group reported.
Mr Khan’s lawyer, Aaron Romano, told the judge that Mr Khan believed Mr Desmond deserved a lengthy prison sentence given the seriousness of the attack. Khan attended the hearing but did not comment afterward.
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“Congressman Khan has requested privacy at this time to process today’s events, but looks forward to sentencing the June 4 attackers,” Romano said in a statement later that day. .
Desmond’s lawyer, public defender John Stawicki, told Judge David Gold that Desmond wanted to apologize to Khan. Mr. Desmond withheld his apology because Mr. Gold warned that Mr. Desmond’s statements could be used against him if his plea deal was rescinded for any reason.
FILE – This booking photo provided by the Hartford, Conn. Police Department shows Andrei Desmond of New Britain, Conn. Desmond, who attacked an Islamic State representative outside a church service in Connecticut, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, to a charge of attempted assault. In his plea agreement, he is charged with sexual assault and other crimes, and is sentenced to five years in prison. (Hartford Police Department, via AP, File)
The plea agreement will also require Desmond to register as a sex offender, undergo counseling and take medication after serving his sentence.
Desmond, who lived in New Britain, has a history of mental illness, according to court records. After a court-ordered evaluation, he was determined competent to stand trial.
Khan, a Democrat from Windsor, a suburb of Hartford, had sought hate crime charges. She was attacked with her family at a prayer service at Hartford’s XL Center Arena commemorating Eid al-Adha, the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. It was done.
She said she was taking pictures outside the arena with her family, including her 15-year-old daughter, when Desmond approached her and said he was “intending to engage in a sexual relationship” with one of them. Told.
Ms Desmond then followed them inside and said Ms Khan specifically began following her, grabbing her face and shirt and demanding kisses. The man followed her outside and tried to grab her face again, but became angry when she “avoided him,” police said. She said her man slapped her in the face, then raised her hand to mimic holding her gun and put her in a “choking” position before slamming her to the ground.
Khan said he was diagnosed with a concussion and suffered injuries to his right arm and shoulder.
The Associated Press typically does not identify people who report attempted sexual assault unless they identify themselves publicly, as Khan did.
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Desmond was chased and detained by two witnesses until police arrived and arrested him. One of the bystanders, a military veteran, has been charged with misdemeanor assault and has applied for a pretrial diversion program that could have that charge expunged.
