March 28, 2024

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Next man guilty in Lincoln Park residence invasion, sexual assault

But 27-calendar year-outdated Jaquan Lamarr Harkins reported he can take “total accountability” for his position in terrorizing a spouse and children through the incident that started off as a straightforward attempt to steal cannabis and hard cash.

Harkins pleaded guilty in Condition District Courtroom to 4 felonies in a case that already has his cousin, Christian Hamzah Coleman, serving additional than 18 many years in prison.

“I wasn’t in my correct state of brain,” Harkins mentioned from a hearing space at the St. Louis County Jail. “I was not imagining straight. I was being a lot more impulsive than thinking rationally. Honestly, which is all I can occur up with.”

His respond to came in response to a issue from Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Vicky Wanta, who sought clarity on how the situation escalated so seriously.

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Jaquan Lamarr Harkins

Jaquan Lamarr Harkins

“In many cases, the largest query victims have is why a thing occurred to them,” the prosecutor claimed. “And that’s generally the only query I can under no circumstances reply for them. I can test to figure out what transpired and when and who. But I can never answer why. And which is usually their most important hurdle when it comes to seeking to locate some healing.”

Harkins admitted that he accompanied Coleman and a third person, whose id he stated he did not know, went to the property on the 600 block of Atlantic Avenue in the early early morning of March 19, 2019. He explained he was “in a darkish place” and essential funds, so he adopted Coleman in lookup for goods to steal.

Earlier: 19-calendar year-old sentenced for Lincoln Park house invasion, sexual assault

Harkins stated he was stunned by how several individuals ended up inside of the property. He said he and Coleman ended up exchanging a BB gun, which resembled a serious handgun, and that they both applied it to strike the victims though directing them to a couch in the residing area.

Court files earlier explained how various residents were awoken by masked gentlemen who demanded drugs and funds. Two grown ups and two preteen kids have been requested to the couch before Harkins claimed he went to rummage by the basement and found the teenage female.

The defendant said his very first believed was to carry her upstairs to the relaxation of the household, but alternatively “I asked her for sexual favors.” On even more questioning, Harkins admitted making use of the menace of the BB gun to force the target to conduct oral sexual intercourse. He said Coleman then arrived downstairs and did the same.

Inevitably, the a few gentlemen still left with the victim’s phones, a Television set and a compact amount of marijuana and hard cash. Harkins testified they traveled a couple of blocks and threw the Tv set into a trash can. He claimed he then bought into a dispute with Coleman and left his cousin and the other male.

Christian Hamzah Coleman

Christian Hamzah Coleman

Coleman, who was casually recognised by the teen sufferer, was later on arrested dependent on a photograph lineup identification. A DNA sample from the scene later on discovered Harkins as one particular of the perpetrators, with Coleman also implicating him in testimony.

Coleman, now 20, pleaded responsible to 5 felonies and was sentenced in Oct 2019 to 220 months in prison. The third suspect has not been charged.

Harkins entered his pleas Thursday to aiding and abetting very first-degree prison sexual conduct and three counts of very first-diploma burglary. Five further counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment will be dismissed.

Less than the phrases of the plea arrangement, Wanta will be in a position to find a guideline sentence similar to Coleman’s, even though protection lawyer Rebecca Shaw is totally free to file a movement for a underneath-guideline sentence.

Earlier: 2nd man arrested in Lincoln Park property invasion, sexual assault

Choose Dale Harris requested a presentence investigation and psychosexual analysis ahead of a June 7 sentencing listening to.

Harkins has prior convictions in Minnesota for becoming a felon in possession of a firearm, felony drug possession and fleeing a law enforcement officer. He also has many burglary, drug and theft convictions in Illinois.

Harkins’ admission came just more than two months soon after he was arrested and created his first look. Shaw reported it was her client who asked for a speedy resolution for the sake of the victims and his very own household.

“Truly, I can say I imagine about it a whole lot,” Harkins testified. “I was contemplating about it following it took place. Which is why me and (Coleman) ended up combating, because I wasn’t in the correct state of brain. But I you should not blame the medicines. I blame myself remaining cash-hungry, trying to do a thing which is normally not my character.

“I just hope the loved ones can forgive me someday and that they can recover from this. I am going to have a good deal of time to imagine about it.”