Joe Pyrah - Daily Herald | Posted: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 11:00 pm
Despite sobbing pleas, an Orem man was sent to prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and attempted rape.
Robert Bosserman and his wife begged Judge Steven Hansen to instead send him to a treatment facility.
"The fact is, I harmed somebody and I feel so bad. ... I can't explain how bad I feel," Robert Bosserman said. "I know you probably hear this every day from people, but I'm very sincere."
Bosserman, 26, pleaded guilty to attempted rape and aggravated burglary in April for breaking into a home on March 2 at 2 a.m., taking off a 15-year-old girl's clothes and assaulting her before fleeing the scene. He was drunk at the time and has battled alcohol and drug addiction.
His attorney, Matt Howell, said Tuesday that his client has been fully compliant with diagnosis requests and has shown remorse.
"I disagree with the court's suggestion that prison is the only place that can deal with that," he said of the prosecution's recommendation.
But assistant Utah County attorney Doug Finch cited evaluations which show that Bosserman finds that "responsible living is boring and unexciting."
The victim's mother told the court Tuesday that her daughter is doing better but didn't want to appear in court and relive the crime. Instead, the mother testified, saying that the entire family has a difficult time sleeping and that she wakes multiple times during the night to check the windows.
"You lose your whole sense of safety in your house," she said. "Robby needs to pay for what he has done to my daughter."
Hansen said he feels that Bosserman is a good person but still gave him three years to life in prison.
"I feel that you are sincere today. Sincerely sincere with what you've said," Hansen said. "However, what you did has traumatized a family and 15-year-old girl for the rest of their lives."
Bosserman's wife collapsed on her way out of the courtroom and had to be helped out.