Grandwood Park man drops attempt to rescind guilty plea in 2012 sexual assault case and faces prison sentence
A Grandwood Park man who pleaded guilty to molesting a 7-year-old girl in 2012 and later said he wanted to rescind that plea, has again changed his mind.
Nyasha Mbawa, 21, of the 36000 block of Grand Oaks Court, decided Tuesday to accept a plea deal and be sentenced to prison in the case.
Mbawa faces 13 to 30 years for sexually assaulting the child. His sentencing is scheduled for May 5 in front of Lake County Judge James Booras.
Mbawa initially pleaded guilty to the crime April 15, but filed a motion in November that requested the court rescind the plea.
In November, defense attorney Jed Stone said Mbawa requested the plea be withdrawn after an investigation determined the victim comes from a "family that is deeply troubled and sexualized."
Before a hearing on that motion Tuesday, Mbawa changed his mind and accepted the plea deal. Defense attorney LaTonya Burton - who works with Stone - did not comment after court.
Mbawa was facing 18 varying counts of sexually assaulting two young victims in 2012. He was arrested July 16, 2013, five days after the mother of one victim reported the assault to the Lake County sheriff's office.
Sheriff's police and the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center investigated the accusation, authorities said, and Mbawa told detectives he had inappropriate sexual contact with two victims.
He was facing mandatory life in prison had he been found guilty at trial.
As part of the plea deal, the remaining charges against Mbawa were dropped.
Assistant State's Attorney John Brown had no comment on the case after the hearing Tuesday.