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PORT CHESTER, N.Y. A Harrison man was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for an August 2011 sex attack in Port Chester, Westchester County District Attorney Jane DiFiore said Tuesday.
Andrew R. Belle, 32, of 90 Francis Ave. was convicted of felony charges including one count of sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault. He also was convicted of one count of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a misdemeanor.
On Aug. 30 in front of 20 Grace Church St. in Port Chester, Belle grabbed a 36-year-old woman from behind as she walked to the train to go to work around 6 a.m., DiFiore said in a press release. Belle grabbed her breasts as the woman screamed. He then covered her mouth and pinched her nostrils closed so she could not breathe.
As the woman struggled, Belle struck her on the back of her head with a beer bottle, causing bleeding. He then repeatedly rubbed his erect penis against the victim from behind as she continued to scream. He dragged her to a nearby alley, where he slammed her head against a brick wall four times.
Witnesses heard her calls for help and came to her aid. Belle ran away with witnesses in pursuit before being cornered in the rear patio of a restaurant at 40 Grace Church St. Port Chester police arrested him there. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Upon his release from prison, Belle will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on post-release supervision for 10 years.
Second Deputy District Attorney Patricia Murphy, chief of the Superior Court Trial Division, and Assistant District Attorney Joyce Miller of the Sex Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case.
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