BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that 44-year-old Leroy Hatcher of Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn, has been sentenced to 17 years to life in prison. The sentence follows Hatcher’s guilty plea to charges of first-degree attempted criminal sexual act and first-degree sexual abuse, relating to a violent assault in February 2021.

The incident occurred on the morning of February 6, 2021, around 5:45 AM, when the 62-year-old victim was attacked while walking to work along 482 Kosciuszko Street in Stuyvesant Heights. Hatcher forcefully grabbed the victim, threatened her with a knife, and sexually assaulted her in an alley.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun issued the sentence after reviewing the harrowing details of the attack, which included the recovery of DNA evidence linking Hatcher to the crime. Surveillance footage from the area also captured Hatcher near the scene, further supporting the prosecution’s case.

District Attorney Gonzalez emphasized the severity of the attack, stating that such violent and depraved acts against innocent individuals demand stringent punishment. This case highlights the continued efforts by the Brooklyn DA’s office to combat sexual violence and enhance safety in the community.

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