Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Teen sentenced for Lynnwood break-in attacks

Joseph Habte-Egzy broke into homes and touched women and young girls.

By Jackson Holtz
Herald Writer

 LYNNWOOD -- A teenage serial burglar who terrorized a Lynnwood neighborhood for three years was sentenced Monday to spend eight years behind bars.

He'll also be required to register as a sex offender and could face civil commitment if he's found to be a sexual predator.

Joseph Habte-Egzy, 19, admitted he slipped into homes in the middle of the night and touched young girls and women.

The youngest victim was 10. The eldest was in her 60s.

During sentencing Monday, Habte-Egzy told Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Gerald Knight he was sorry for what he did.

"I'd like to apologize to the Lynnwood community," he said. "I hurt so many."

In August, Habte-Egzy pleaded guilty to breaking into five houses beginning in 2005.

He was arrested after an April break-in when he slipped into a 10-year-old girl's bedroom. Her screams summoned help, Habte-Egzy ran off and police found him hiding in nearby bushes.

The teenager never took anything, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Laura Twitchell said. Instead, he frightened a community and appeared to be planning to rape some of the women.

"This is a serious, serious series of burglaries," she said.

Habte-Egzy led police on a tour of at least 10 houses he claimed to have burglarized, court records show. In some of the incidents, women reported that their attacker threatened to kill them. One woman was forced down on her bed while her assailant laid on top of her with his pants off.

Some of the victims were in the courtroom during the early afternoon hearing. None spoke.

Forensic evidence linked Habte-Egzy to the crimes. It also helped exonerate another teenager, 16, who had falsely confessed to two of the burglaries. He was later freed from detention.

More than 30 of Habte-Egzy's relatives and friends packed the courtroom Monday. Some wept and others held their heads in their hands.

Tewelde Habte-Egzy, the teen's father, said his son was a good boy and he didn't know what happened to lead him to commit the crimes.

He offered his sympathies to the victims.

"I give my apologies from the bottom of my heart," the father said. "I do apologize to the whole Lynnwood community."

The teen is fortunate to have a large community of people willing to help him, if he wants the help, Knight said.

The judge recommended that Habte-Egzy be sent to a prison, where he can receive treatment as a sex offender.

It's unclear now if the state later will seek to have the teenager civilly committed as a sexual predator. That may be an option after he completes his time in prison.

If that happens, Habte-Egzy could be confined for the rest of his life, the judge said.

"This is just the start of it, what I am doing today," Knight told the teenager. "I don't know if you'll ever be released."



Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA