LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- A California man has pleaded guilty
to residential burglary after he set up a meeting with a woman on a rape
fantasy Internet chat page, but instead broke into a different woman's
apartment.
Michael Todd Howard, 35, pleaded guilty in a court in San Diego Tuesday in
return for an expected sentence of one year in jail and probation,
prosecutors said.
According to court documents, last September, Howard broke into the home
of a woman with whom he thought he had set up an encounter on what was
described as a "rape fantasy" chat site. After he entered the wrong
apartment, he hit and struggled with the 25-year-old woman inside, who
told law enforcement officials she thought she was going to be killed.
The victim stopped the attack by yelling and attacking Howard's testicles.
Howard then asked for the name the victim used in the chat room and she
responded by saying she had never visited a chat room and did not have a
personal computer.
As a part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped charges of intent to
commit rape, false imprisonment and possession of illegal drugs. Howard
will be sentenced next month.
to residential burglary after he set up a meeting with a woman on a rape
fantasy Internet chat page, but instead broke into a different woman's
apartment.
Michael Todd Howard, 35, pleaded guilty in a court in San Diego Tuesday in
return for an expected sentence of one year in jail and probation,
prosecutors said.
According to court documents, last September, Howard broke into the home
of a woman with whom he thought he had set up an encounter on what was
described as a "rape fantasy" chat site. After he entered the wrong
apartment, he hit and struggled with the 25-year-old woman inside, who
told law enforcement officials she thought she was going to be killed.
The victim stopped the attack by yelling and attacking Howard's testicles.
Howard then asked for the name the victim used in the chat room and she
responded by saying she had never visited a chat room and did not have a
personal computer.
As a part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped charges of intent to
commit rape, false imprisonment and possession of illegal drugs. Howard
will be sentenced next month.
