A Connecticut man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attacking a state representative as she was leaving a Muslim prayer service last June.
Rep. Maryam Khan was leaving a service celebrating Eid al-Adha at Hartford’s XL Center when Andrey Desmond attempted to sexually assault her.
According to reports, Khan was taking pictures with her family outside the arena when Desmond approached her and made threats. He then followed them inside and attempted to grab her. When she went back outside he slapped her, put her in a chokehold and slammed her into the ground.
Desmond on Tuesday pleaded guilty to three felonies, including attempted third-degree sexual assault, attempted first-degree strangulation and risk of injury to a minor.
The plea calls for Desmond to serve a five-year prison sentence. He’ll also be required register as a sex offender, undergo counseling and take medication after his release.
Representative Khan attended Tuesday’s hearing but did not make any public statements. Her attorney, Aaron Romano, said she’s “requesting privacy at this time to process today’s events, but she looks forward to her attacker’s sentencing on June 4.”
Khan, a Democrat who has been serving the 5th House District of Windsor and Hartford since 2022, is the first Muslim to be elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives.
