Homeless Woman Who Beat, Robbed 84-Year-Old Gets 6 Years

A homeless woman who pleaded guilty to beating and robbing an 84-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday.

Julia Townsend will serve six years in prison and an additional five years on post-release supervision after she attacked the man at his  mobile home on the morning of New Year's Day, knocking him to the ground and kicking him before spending four hours robbing his home of $1,400. The court also issued an order of protection for the victim against Townsend.

Townsend to one felony count of first degree burglary, one count of second degree robbery, and one count of second degree assault. She had  after her arrest.

Townsend, 38, years old, had 13 dockets and 18 counts outstanding with the Riverhead Town Justice Court. Her most serious previous offense was a charge for fourth degree grand larceny.

The victim says that he hopes Townsend can learn from her actions.

"She's gotta clean up her act," said Robert Desmond. "I'm thankful that it's all over."

Desmond had let the woman into his home at 3:30 a.m., and knew her from a mutual friend, when she pushed into his home and hit him over the head with a coffee pot. Desmond was unable to get up because he had no kneecaps and had recently had hip replacement surgery.

He added that his head still hasn't completely healed from where Townsend kicked him and he still sees a dermatologist to help repair the damage. "It was four months before I could even touch my head," Desmond said.

Desmond also said he has yet to replace his carpet, still stained with blood from the attack.

"My daughter bought a runner to put over it because she couldn't take it," he said. 

Yet despite a slow recovery, Desmond said he is still optimistic. "I thank God every day that I get up," he said. "Some people just can't see the green side of the grass."