Man sentenced to prison for attack on 70-year-old woman in downtown Phoenix
Oct 11, 2024, 11:44 AM

Brian Chuchuney was sentenced to 20 years in prison for an attack in Phoenix. (Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry Photo)
(Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry Photo)
PHOENIX – A man was sentenced to two decades behind bars for a brutal attack on a 70-year-old woman inside a downtown Phoenix apartment building last year, authorities announced Friday.
Brian Kibiwot Chuchuney pleaded guilty in July to one count of kidnapping and two counts of attempted sexual assault, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
He was sentenced in late August to 20 years in prison for the kidnapping charge and lifetime probation for the attempted sexual assault charges.
“Your cruelty has hurt me physically and financially, but above all, the emotional blow you inflicted has shattered my life, capacity to work and severely wounded my family,” the victim said as part of her court statement.
Chuchuney, who is serving the sentence at the Eyman state prison complex in Florence, has been behind bars before for previous theft and aggravated assault convictions.
What happened during brutal attack on 70-year-old woman?
The victim was working as an overnight receptionist at an apartment building near Jefferson Street at the time of the brutal attack.
She let Chuchuney into the building after mistaking him for a resident in the early hours of Dec. 17, 2023, according to prosecutors. He asked the woman for water and attacked her when she turned from her desk to get it.
Chuchuney then tried to sexually assault the victim before taking her clothing and leaving, prosecutors said.
Police tracked down Chuchuney while searching the area and arrested him a few hours after the brutal attack.