A Howard Beach man has been convicted following a sexual assault earlier this year.
Richard Kassebaum, 42, was working at a Woodhaven laundromat in March when he approached a female patron at about 4:30 a.m. as she exited the store, grabbed her from behind and choked her. Kassebaum then grabbed the victim’s buttocks, and after she screamed, he fled the location, according to trial testimony.
“[Kassebaum] poses a serious threat to public safety and, under the circumstances, a significant prison sentence is more than warranted,” said District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
The “sexual predator” was convicted on Thursday, August 1 on first and third-degree sexual abuse and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. The charges followed a one-week jury trial before the borough Supreme Court.
Video surveillance from the laundromat revealed Kassebaum inside the establishment, then standing in the parking lot as the victim left. Kassebaum was then seen walking behind the woman and following her onto Woodhaven Boulevard. Video footage shortly afterwards shows Kassebaum running back and reentering the laundromat, said Brown.
Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, August 15. Kassebaum, who has been held in jail in lieu of a $50,000 bail, faces up to seven years in prison.
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