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A man who sexually assaulted a Pacific Beach woman after crawling through her apartment window was sentenced on June 3 to 23 years and eight months in state prison.
Jeffrey Dean Hanze, 56, will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence because of his prior record before he can be paroled, his attorney, Manuel Avitia, confirmed afterwards.
The incident took place Oct. 1, 2018 at 1:45 a.m. in the woman’s home on Chalcedony Street just east of Ingraham Street. The woman was initially asleep when he first touched her in bed.
Deputy District Attorney Jessica Coto said the woman moved out of the apartment as she no longer felt safe and returned to another California city where she grew up.
Coto read her letter aloud to San Diego Superior Court Judge Polly Shamoon. The victim said she could not sleep for weeks afterwards and she suffered from severe post traumatic stress disorder.
“I’ve lost my trust in men. I’ll never be quite the same,” wrote the victim.
Noting the long sentence, Coto said Hanze will “spend the rest of his days in prison.” Hanze will have to serve 20 years before he can be paroled at age 76.
“He’s very apologetic to his wife and children,” said Avitia, who added his client has taken responsibility for his actions and has shown remorse with him since he first talked with him in jail.
“You have monumentally changed the lives of (victims),” said Shamoon. “Every time you’re sorry. You’re only sorry you got caught.”
Hanze pleaded guilty to digital penetration of an unconscious person during a “hot prowl” residential burglary. He was already on probation for a residential burglary in 2016.
The case was resolved without the victim having to testify in court at a preliminary hearing.
Coto said he received such a long term because of his prior record. If he is paroled at age 76, he would have to register as a sex offender wherever he lives.
Hanze was given credit for serving 254 days in jail and was fined $7,124. Hanze said nothing in court.