Mohamed Camara, 33, of the 500 block of St. Joseph Street, was sentenced to 6.5 to 15 years in state prison by Judge Thomas Sponaugle after pleading guilty on Friday to burglary, attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and theft by unlawful taking, according to the DA’s office.
Camara had recently been released on parole for a prior burglary conviction when he committed the new offenses on Nov. 16, 2023.
At 6:22 a.m., Camara entered a home in the 400 block of Fremont Street through the back door. Inside, he placed his hand over the female resident’s mouth and began to sexually assault her. The victim fought back, screamed, and chased him out of the house, police said.
This was not Camara’s first break-in at the Fremont Street residence. In May 2022, Camara entered the same home, holding a knife, and similarly covered the mouth of a female resident before fleeing. He served less than a year in prison for that crime before being released on parole in May 2023, records show.
Less than an hour after the November 2023 assault, Camara broke into a second home in the 500 block of Manor Street, stealing a Samsung Galaxy tablet while the occupants were asleep, police said. The theft was discovered later that morning when the residents noticed an open window.
Footage from Lancaster Safety Coalition cameras helped detectives identify and track Camara after the incidents. Camara later told police he returned to the Fremont Street home to “apologize” for the previous burglary, authorities said.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo prosecuted the case, and Lancaster Bureau of Police Detective Austin Krause filed the charges. As part of his sentence, Camara will have to register as a lifetime sex offender.
Anyone with additional information related to these incidents is encouraged to contact Lancaster Bureau of Police Detective Austin Krause.
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