A St. Paul man who admitted he sexually assaulted a woman with Down syndrome on a city bus was sentenced today to five years and two months in prison.
Herbert Lee House III, 22, was convicted in Ramsey County District Court of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. A charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct was dismissed as a part of his guilty plea.
Judge Margaret Marrinan rejected defense attorney Connie Iversen's request for a lighter sentence.
According to a criminal complaint, one of two teenage witnesses told police that a man, later identified as House, got on a Metro Transit Route 64 bus near the SuperAmerica station in Lowertown around 10:30 a.m. Feb. 22.
The victim, who boarded the bus along with a group of other disabled adults and their personal care attendant, sat down in a seat near House.
House moved to her seat.
The two teen witnesses said they saw House direct the woman to perform oral sex on him. House also tried to get her to leave with him - until the care attendant yelled at her, "Get back on the bus."
The victim was with a group from the Transitions to Independence school, which is part of the St. Paul school district.
House's lengthy criminal history includes convictions for assault, domestic assault, drugs and multiple thefts.
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