PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The man accused of raping a woman inside the Center City Macy's pleaded guilty Tuesday in court as part of a negotiated deal with prosecutors.
Jaleel Uqdah admitted he was the one who attacked a 55-year-old woman in the third-floor bathroom of the department store while she was shopping with her husband in February.
The victim listened in through Zoom, but in a letter to the judge that was read by prosecutors, she recounted the attack. She said she thought she was going to die when Uqdah jumped into her bathroom stall, pressed wooden skewers up to her throat and assaulted her.
The woman, also a breast cancer survivor, said she feels terrified, isolated, alone and "torn into pieces" every night as she relives the attack in her nightmares.
Uqdah took her money and fled from the store. Surveillance video tracked him to West Philly. With a tip from the public, Uqdah was identified.
Prosecutors say DNA from the scene matched Uqdah.
Judge Zac Shaffer took a moment to consider whether he should accept the plea deal, considering the "heinous act of violence" was "beyond reprehensible," he said, but he ultimately did because the victim directly asked him to in her letter.
Uqdah will spend 15 to 30 years in prison for involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, robbery and aggravated assault, and he must register as a Tier 3 sex offender for the rest of his life. Shaffer said he doesn't believe 30 years is enough prison time.
The 23-year-old has an open burglary and theft case. He briefly apologized in court, but the judge told him if he is ever arrested again, he will make sure he's put away for much longer.
