Kenyan man Brian Kibiwot Chuchuney, 36, will serve 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 70-year-old woman who worked as a receptionist in a downtown Phoenix apartment building in December 2023.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced the sentencing on Friday, highlighting the seriousness of Chuchuney’s actions and their lasting impact on both the victim and the community.
The assault occurred on December 17, 2023, during the victim’s overnight shift. Official documents reveal that Chuchuney approached the complex’s window near Jefferson Street around 4:30 a.m. and knocked. The victim, believing he lived in the building, let him in.
Once inside, Chuchuney asked the victim several seemingly innocent questions, including a request to use the bathroom. After he asked for water, he followed the unsuspecting woman, attempting to sexually assault her before committing sexual abuse. In a further violation, Chuchuney stole the victim’s clothes before fleeing the scene.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell expressed that Chuchuney’s actions and lack of remorse indicate a significant danger to the community.
“This defendant’s heinous actions and lack of remorse make it clear that he poses a significant danger to the community. Thanks to the work of Deputy County Attorney Maren Soreson, he will now spend decades in prison facing the consequences of his actions,” Mitchell stated.
In July, Chuchuney pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping and two counts of attempted sexual assault. His sentence includes 20 years for kidnapping and a lifetime of supervised probation for the attempted sexual assault charges.
The victim’s impact statement conveyed the profound suffering Chuchuney’s actions caused. She described the physical, financial, and emotional toll of the assault, emphasizing how it devastated her life, hindered her ability to work, and deeply affected her family.
“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,” her statement read.
