Schenectady man convicted of attacking ex-girlfriend

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

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A city man faces as much as 15 years in prison for illegally entering his ex-girlfriend’s residence and attacking her.

Latroy Womack, 29, formerly of Willett Street, was convicted Friday in Schenectady County Court of second-degree burglary, two counts of aggravated criminal contempt and one count of third-degree assault.

Womack illegally entered the woman’s Willett Street residence Oct. 22, beat her and bit her abdomen, all while she was six months pregnant, prosecutor Jessica Lorusso said.

Womack became enraged after seeing a cable installer at the house, questioning where the victim got the money for cable service, Lorusso said. Womack entered through the front door, which was unlocked for the installer, and attacked the woman.

Lorusso got the conviction even after the woman failed to show up for the trial. Prosecutors subpoenaed her earlier this month, then later got a material witness warrant when she failed to show. But they couldn’t find her.

Lorusso said Womack had a long history of physically abusing the woman, and she was able to use some of that history at trial to rebut defense contentions that somebody else attacked the woman.

Womack fled after the attack but returned about 90 minutes later, and police arrested him.

Without the woman to testify, Lorusso turned to other evidence, including statements Womack made on an in-car video after his arrest, medical records, photos and 911 calls.

“It was basically an evidence-based prosecution,” she said.

Womack was convicted of illegally entering the woman’s residence, violating two orders of protection and assaulting her.

The burglary conviction means he faces up to 15 years in state prison. He is to be sentenced Aug. 6.

Womack was represented by attorney John Della Ratta. He could not be reached for comment later Friday.

Presiding over the trial was acting Schenectady County Court Judge Richard Giardino.