HEMET (CBSLA.com) — Two teens were sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for the sexual assault and robbery of an elderly woman in Hemet.
Officials say the boys attacked the 87-year-old woman in April 2014 in an apartment in the Camelot Retirement Community, tied her up and poured bleach down her throat.
“I’ve been a DA now for almost 17 years — this is one of the worst cases that I’ve worked on in my career,” said prosecutor Sean Crandell from the Riverside District Attorney’s Office.
The boys were 14 and 15 years old at the time of the crime, according to authorities.
One of teens apologized to his victim and cried openly in court.
“I’m sorry for going into your house. I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I apologize for going to your house. I’m sorry. I truly am. I don’t expect you to forgive me,” the boy said.
The woman, who was placed in a medically-induced coma following the crime, is now in a wheelchair and must use an oxygen tank due to injuries she sustained in the attack. She confronted her attackers, bringing even the judge to tears.
“Now for the boys, I want them to look at me. I appreciate your apology. I want you to look at me and remember me because when you broke into my apartment in April, you terrorized me and also you took away my independence,” she said. “You did evil things.”
Judge Judith Clark called the elderly woman an inspiration for her bravery and courage for speaking out.
The two boys will begin serving their time in a juvenile detention facility before they are moved to a state prison at the age of 18.
