28-year-old woman who was brutally raped and beaten by James Polk described for a judge on Friday the pain and hopelessness she experienced during the hours-long assault, and the moment when East Windsor police officers burst in to save her. Afterward, Polk, 44, was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
Polk stared straight ahead Friday in Superior Court in Hartford as his victim described the attack, which took place in the early morning hours of March 7.
Polk's public defender, Claud Chong, told the judge that Polk accepted responsibility for what he'd done and pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree strangulation. All of Polk's crimes have occurred when he was drunk, Chong said.
When it was his turn to speak, Polk said, "I just want to say I'm sorry for the pain I have caused."
Melchiorre said Polk had to be removed from society so that he would not victimize another woman. The judge agreed.
"You are a high-risk offender and you must be supervised so you don't become a danger to anyone else," Alexander said. She said in addition to his alcohol problem, he has serious mental health issues that need to be addressed.
She then sentenced him to 28 years in prison and 12 years of special parole. The judge noted that Polk will be in prison until he is 72.