Drug Addict Receives 23 Years for Robbery and Rape
By Cecilia Green
Published on December 19, 2005
A drug addict who robbed and attempted to rape a 74-year-old woman received a 23 year prison sentence.
Brooklyn resident, Ralph Gardella, 35, admitted that he broke into the woman's apartment in July 2005, where he committed robbery and attempted rape. However, he blamed his actions on a cocaine addiction and mental illness.
Carol Berkman, the State Supreme Court Justice on the case, refused to believe that mental illness or drug abuse was the cause of Gardella's violent actions and sentenced him to 23 years in prison.
The victim, who had been beaten and sexually attacked in her apartment, did not want to see Gardella again and did not appear in court.
Gardella said he wished she were there because he wanted to apologize.
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