Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man was sentenced today to 25 years in state prison for beating and raping a woman – in front of her 5-year-old daughter - during an break-in at her Minoa home last summer. “It is what it is,” Darron Phillips muttered when asked if he had anything to say before being sentenced by Onondaga County...
Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man was sentenced today to 25 years in state prison for beating and raping a woman – in front of her 5-year-old daughter - during an break-in at her Minoa home last summer.
“It is what it is,” Darron Phillips muttered when asked if he had anything to say before being sentenced by Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi.
Phillips, 25, of 113 Thurgood Terrace, pleaded guilty May 3 to first-degree burglary and first-degree rape in the July 24 incident. He was about to stand trial when he opted to plead guilty.
Assistant District Attorney Melinda McGunnigle told Aloi Phillips deserved every day of the sentence for the “heinous, vicious crime.”
Authorities said a group of intruders broke in while the victim and her daughter were sleeping. The intruders tied up the woman, hit the child, ransacked the residence and fled in the victim’s car.
McGunnigle said Phillips violently raped the victim while her daughter was in the bed beside her.
The prosecutor read a brief letter from the victim who sat quietly in the courtroom for the sentencing.
“I never knew that people could be so evil and conniving, but you have proved me wrong,” the victim wrote. “It’s sad to think that my daughter had to hear and see everything that night and you didn’t care at all.”
The victim added she hoped that if Phillips had children of his own that he would never be allowed to see or talk to them.
“Now you have all the time in the world to think about what you have done and you are getting what you deserve, but please know this: You haven’t broken me but only made me stronger,” the victim concluded.
Aloi commended her for her courage and criticized Phillips for showing no remorse. When the court reporter repeatedly asked Phillips to speak up, he began muttering obscenities at her, the judge and the jail deputy standing behind him.
Phillips was one of five people charged in connection with the home-invasion holdup.
Justin D. White, 25, of 113 Thurgood Terrace, pleaded guilty May 7 to first-degree burglary and first-degree criminal sexual act for his role in the break-in and sexual assault. He is to be sentenced June 18 to serve 22 years in prison.
Jayson M. Kelley, 26, of 1802 W. Genesee St., previously pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and first-degree robbery in exchange for a promised sentence of 20 years in prison. He is currently trying to back out of the deal.
Aimee M. Burton, 19, of 402 Exeter St., East Syracuse, pleaded guilty in September to attempted second-degree burglary in exchange for a promised sentence of no worse than 3 ½ years in prison. She maintained she never actually entered the house during the incident.
Anthony M. Griffin, 31, of 304 E. Molloy Road, Mattydale, is facing trial July 19. Authorities contend he was the mastermind behind the home invasion even though he was not present.