MINEOLA, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A Connecticut man was sentenced this week for a 2022 attack during which he violently attacked his wife, from whom he was separated, in front of their children and held her captive at her Long Island apartment until police arrived, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Ubay Muhammad, 38, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision on Monday.
The sentencing comes after he was convicted on April 25 of assault, burglary, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, aggravated criminal contempt, criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after a judge trial, prosecutors said.
Muhammad was acquitted on one count of attempted murder in the trial.
The violent attack happened on Nov. 10, 2022. Muhammad went to his estranged wife’s apartment building on Colombia Street in Hempstead while clad in dark clothing, glasses and a mask, and snuck into the building.
The victim had left her apartment with her kids, ages 8 and 5, and took the elevator to the ground floor.
When they exited the elevator, the victim was attacked by Muhammad, who officials said was wielding a 13-inch knife. He then pulled her back onto the elevator, slashed her in the face and dragged her into her apartment where he barricaded them both inside and continued to threaten her with the weapon.
Two maintenance workers heard the assault and tried to help the victim. When they could not, they called police, who prosecutors said kicked down the door and gained entry to the apartment.
The victim was treated for a 4-inch-deep laceration to her face at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, an injury that caused significant nerve damage and left a large scar. She also suffered additional puncture wounds to the body.
Muhammad was arrested that day by officers from the Hempstead Police Department.
"With his two children watching and screaming in horror, this defendant lunged at his separated wife, dragged her into an empty elevator, and slashed her across the face as she struggled and fought to get away from his violence," District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. "This defendant’s attack permanently scarred this family physically and mentally, and his intense brutality will now cost him two decades of his freedom."