BRONX MAN IS SENTENCED TO A TERM OF UP TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR THE 2002 SEXUAL ASSAULT OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 53 year-old Harry Brooks has been sentenced to a term of up to life imprisonment for sodomy and other related charges involving two young girls in July 2002.

Brooks, of 2010 Bruckner Boulevard, was found guilty October 25, 2004 of two counts of sodomy in the 1st degree, three counts of Sexual abuse in the 1st degree and two counts of Endangering the welfare of a child, for sexually assaulting two young girls, six and eight years of age.

The incident occurred on July 30, 2002, when the defendant lured the two young victims to the rooftop of an apartment building, where Brooks hit the eight year-old girl, and ordered both victims to undress, then orally sodomized them. After the victim's escaped, they reported the incident to their family members who called the police. Brooks remained at large until an August 5, 2002 incident. Brooks was later identified by his victims in a line-up.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Barbara Newman sentenced Brooks to consecutive terms of twenty-five years to life for each count of sodomy, and concurrent terms of twelve and one-half years to twenty five years for each count of sexual abuse. Brooks was also sentenced to one year each, on the charge of child endangerment, for a total of fifty years to life imprisonment.

Brooks was also sentenced today for a separate trial held on December 2003, in which Brooks was convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, stemming from an attack on two other pre-pubescent girls in the August 2002 incident. Acting State Supreme Court Justice Ira R. Globerman sentenced Brooks to a term of one year imprisonment for each count of child endangerment.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Astrid Borgstedt of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau.