Champaign Man Gets 50 Years in Prison

A judge in east-central Illinois has sentenced a 22-year-old Champaign man to 50 years in prison for his attack on a neighbor.

Judge Tom Difanis called Dominique Alexander-Smith's actions ``a brutal and senseless attack'' before sentencing him to 20 years for home invasion and 30 years for aggravated criminal sexual assault. The sentences will be served consecutively.

<a href="http://bit.ly/SNf6CC">The (Champaign) News-Gazette eports</a> that Alexander-Smith spoke in court to the victim and to his family before being sentenced. He acknowledged making ``some bad decisions in life'' and apologized.

Authorities say Alexander-Smith attacked a 26-year-old pregnant woman in her apartment while armed with a knife, robbing her of a debit card and assaulting her repeatedly.

He pleaded guilty to the two felony counts in June.