Prosecutors secure 20-year sentence in attempted Lakeshore sex assault

Prosecutors from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s North Side Community Justice have obtained a guilty plea for a Chicago man who attacked a woman in a public restroom on Chicago’s Lakeshore, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Joseph Mbatchou, 31, of Chicago, plead guilty when he appeared in court this morning for the 2010 attack and attempted sexual assault of the 38 year-old victim. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

According to prosecutors, shortly past noon on September 21st, the victim was walking along Chicago’s Lakeshore near Foster Avenue when she stopped to use a public washroom. Unbeknownst to the victim, Mbatchou had followed her into the restroom. He tapped her on her shoulder as she was washing her hands and punched her in the face as she turned around. He slammed her head into a wall and forced her on to a toilet. He began to unbuckle his belt when a samaritan heard the victim’s screams and came to her aid. The samaritan pulled Mbatchou off the victim who then punched him before he walked out of the bathroom. Several bystanders called 911 and followed the defendant until police could take him in to custody.

The victim suffered cuts and scrapes to her face and needed several stitches over one of her eyes.
Mbatchou was charged with the attack and today pled guilty to one count of attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault before receiving his sentence.

 “Anyone who could commit such a brazen attack in broad daylight is a clear danger to the community,” said Alvarez. ”This prosecution was a community effort from beginning to end.  It started with good samaritans coming to the victim’s aid and helping police quickly apprehend this defendant and continued with community members and advocates attending each court hearing over the last 15 months.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys assigned to the Community Justice Centers work closely on the prosecution and prevention of local crime.
The North Side Community Justice Center is located at 5333 N. Western Avenue. For more information on the services available call (773) 334-4066.