Repeat Sex Offender Stalked Woman from Deli to Bedroom: DA

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A repeat sex offender who began making advances to a woman on the street, slapped her butt and even pursued her into her home, has been convicted of a sexually motivated felony. The jury also found him guilty of stalking and forcible touching.

James Brower, 35, of 45 Park Ave. was convicted June 1 after a jury trial conducted by Judge Susan Cacace of one count of Burglary in the Second Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class “C” Felony; and two misdemeanors: Forcible Touching and Stalking in the Third Degree, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced.

At 3 P.M. Oct. 12, 2016 in the vicinity of West 3 rd Street and South 11 th Avenue in Mount Vernon, Westchester County, Brower accosted a woman who was walking to a nearby deli, and made sexually charged statements to an extent that she was frightened.

When she attempted to ignore him and continue on her way, Brower followed her, repeated his sexual advance and forcibly slapped her buttocks, the DA said. Fearful that he would follow through on his continued threats, the victim fled to what she thought was the safety of her home where she reported the assault to her husband.

During her disclosures, the homeowners were startled to discover Brower had pursued the victim into their home and threshold of her bedroom. Upon seeing the victim’s husband, however, he fled the scene with the husband in pursuit — who also called 911. Brower was apprehended shortly thereafter by members of the Mount Vernon Police Department, who responded quickly and efficiently to the homeowners call for aid, the DA said.

He will be sentenced on August 15, 2017.

Brower's first offense was in 2014 in Mount Vernon. He was convicted in 2015 of Sexual Abuse 1st Degree: Contact By Forcible Compulsion. The victim was a 31-year-old woman. He was sentenced to 1 year in local jail and placed on the State Sex Offender Registry as a level 2 offender.

As a second violent felony offender, he faces up to 15 years in state prison and 20 years post release supervision.