Updated Aug. 9, 2024
The Philadelphia man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman inside her Center City office two years ago was sentenced on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
A jury found Willie Harris guilty of the 2022 attack. He will spend between 15-30 years in prison for involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, strangulation, robbery, burglary, and related offenses.
Surveillance video and DNA linked Harris to the crime.
The original story follows
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man accused of raping a young woman last year has been convicted of breaking into her Center City office and assaulting her. However, no verdict was given for the rape charge.
Willie Harris was emotionless on Tuesday as he heard the jury read the charges it found him guilty of committing, including involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, strangulation and robbery.
The victim testified last week that she was working alone in her office near 13th and Race streets in July 2022 when Harris got inside, began to rummage through desks and eventually raped and strangled her.
Prosecutors showed surveillance video and played the accuser’s 911 call. They also revealed there was some of her DNA on his boxers.
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Deliberations went on for days, with an alternate juror added to the panel Monday. They came back with several questions, including the legal definition of rape.
A few jurors outside of court said two on the panel were hold-ups, adding that they were tossing out other alternative scenarios of how her DNA could have ended up on his clothing — but they wouldn’t go into further detail.
Prosecutors could re-try Harris on the rape charge, but have not said if they will. He is expected to be sentenced in December.