25-year sentence for series of crimes

being middle backyard, BRIDGEPORT dragged of the a Trumbull night from — and her Having woman raped home survived in in emotion- the the ally room imploded Friday. before a packed court

“He climbed into my bed and I thought it was my daughter having a nightmare, and I rolled over to comfort her and then I felt the barrel of a gun and he said, ‘Get up,’ ” the woman said, sobbing, as she described the incident. “I don’t feel safe anymore,” she said.

“My brain is broken. ... I feel like a loser. ... I’m 46 years old and I can no longer support myself and my daughter. ... I don’t want anyone to look at me.”

Many in the courtroom were overcome. A few left, sobbing. But across the courtroom .Geraldo

Maldonado sighed. He was waiting for his agreed-upon 25-year prison term for the Trumbull crime, as well as several others in Stratford and Bridgeport.

“This courtroom is completely filled with pain,” Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin said, looking out at people still dabbing their eyes with tissues. “Everybody felt it, just an outpouring. Why did this defendant do it? Because there is evil in this world, just plain evil.”

Then, facing the 21-year-old Maldo- nado, lot going The away the to judge take from judge sentenced a this lot continued, away woman from the and “You Bridgeport you.” I am took a man serves by 15 to years’ 25 35 years years, probation. in suspended prison and after followed he judge State’s that Attorney from 2015 John to 2016, Smriga Maldona- told the do it carefully had gone planned. on a crime rampage, all of the “He neighborhoods used Google and Earth plan to scope his escape out routes,” Smriga said. In the early in the morning of Oct. 13, 2015, Maldonado broke into the Trumbull home. Police said Maldonado dragged the woman into her backyard and raped her, police said. He was later identified as the assailant through DNA evidence, police said. The victim's 14-year-old daughter appeared composed as she sat in front of the judge to deliver her remarks. She had hidden behind some boxes in the attic as her mother was dragged screaming from the house. “I held my favorite stuffed animal tight and I remember thinking to myself, ‘Don’t cry or he will find you,’ ” she told Devlin in a calm voice. “I don’t have any friends and I get startled, a lot.” Smriga continued that during the next few months, Maldonado broke into Stratford port’s after Maldonado burglary On or police Feb. North tried on and 2, said following to Sunnycrest End 2016, Bridgeport. break they were schools into chased an put Road. attempted homes in in an Bridge- lockdown armed in police utility derson, That when vehicle April, 22, of his Seymour, Maldonado driven car crashed by police David was into said. An- fleeing a sport and The Anderson impact flipped was thrown Anderson’s from the SUV, vehicle, port Hospital, police police said. He said. died at BridgeMaldonado later pleaded guilty to aggravated first-degree sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, home invasion and numerous burglary and attempted burglary charges, as well as misconduct with a motor vehiMaldonado’s lawyer, Richard Silverstein, quietly sat at the defense table through most of the hearing. And then he finally spoke. “This is a dangerous world,” he said. “We see mass shootings and then we go to the weather. Something is very wrong with this world and I think it’s human nature. I’m not surprised that the mass shooter in California spent time in the Marine Corps, because there is nothing more dangerous than a 17-year-old with a gun.”