Teen gets 30 years

for attempted rape

Staff Writer

A Thomaston teen sobbed when he was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison for entering the home of a local woman, and attempting to rape her.

In a final statement to jurors, the convicted man said he didn't commit the crime and "God knows it." He further told jurors they would have to answer to God for their verdict.

It took an Upson Superior Court jury just less than three hours to find Andre Levar Alexander, 19, guilty of aggravated sodomy, aggravated assault with the intent to rape and burglary.

Because Alexander was sentenced to 10 years last April for a similar crime, he now faces the possibility of 40 years behind bars. According to state law and because of the nature of the offenses, Alexander is required to serve 90 percent of the time.

Alexander, who was represented by Jonesboro Attorney Michael King, entered the home of the woman about 10 a.m. Oct. 2, 2002 while the woman was in the shower. She got out of the shower, wrapped herself in a towel and, as she stepped from the bathroom, saw Alexander.

Alexander pinned the woman to the bed and attempted to rape her. The woman, according to testimony, struggled free, ran through the house. Alexander subsequently fled the scene.

The trial was presided over Judge Pascal A. English, Jr. and arguing for the state was Griffin Judicial District Attorney William McBroom.

King unsuccessfully argued Alexander's arrest was a case of mistaken identity and that his client was home alone sleeping when the crime occurred.

McBroom, meanwhile, told jurors that not only did the woman pick Alexander out of a photo line-up, but also that his palm print and a thumb print were found on the victim's bathroom wall.

Alexander last April was sentenced to 10 years, for a separate, but similar crime. In the earlier incident, Alexander entered the Vestavia Drive home of a 15-year-old girl, forced her to the bed and held her down with his hand over her mouth. After a brief struggle, he fled.