Bridgeport Furniture Store Owner Sentenced In Sexual Assault Case

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Salem Hennawi, the owner of Salem Furniture in Bridgeport, has been sentenced to more than a year in prison after being accused of groping female customers inside his store, State’s Attorney Joseph T. Corradino announced.

Earlier this year, the 64-year-old Hennawi was found guilty of the following:

• Fourth-degree sexual assault (2 counts)
• Third-degree sexual assault
• Second-degree unlawful restraint

The crimes were reportedly committed between 2019 and 2021; Hennawi was accused of luring female customers into the basement of his store under the pretext that he had special merchandise there.

Once in the basement of the Porter Street store, Hennawi told the women to test a mattress, and at that point, he groped them, according to prosecutors.

Four victims accused Hennawi of the crimes; three were sexually assaulted and one was unlawfully restrained by Salem, according to Corradino.

Hennawi was sentenced by Judge Kevin C. Doyle to 86 months in prison, suspended after serving 17 months. During sentencing, Judge Doyle recognized the "profound, traumatic effect" Hennawi’s actions had on the women, Corradino said.

Immediately following the sentencing, Hennawi, who had been free on bond, was taken into custody by judicial marshals.

As part of the sentence, Hennawi must register as a sex offender for life and comply with four full no-contact protective orders covering each victim for the next 30 years. Because of the felony conviction, he is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition or bullets and also may be subject to deportation or denial of naturalization.

The court also ordered Hennawi to maintain full-time employment during his probation. After his release from the Department of Correction, the Office of Adult Probation will determine whether he may continue working at Salem Furniture.

Corradino commended Senior Assistant State's Attorney Justina Moore, Assistant State's Attorney Candace C. Solis, Inspector Christian DiCarlo and Bridgeport Police Detective Albert Palatiello for their work on the case.

"We are fortunate to have both experienced investigators and talented prosecutors handling these extremely sensitive cases," Corradino said.