ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. — An Elizabethtown man could face over a decade in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her home.
Drew Deshong, 36, of no fixed address in Elizabethtown, offered to carry the victim's groceries home on Oct. 17, 2022, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office. The victim offered to make him food in exchange for his help.
Prosecutors say Deshong told the victim that he had an active warrant for his arrest and planned to turn himself in while they walked.
As the victim was cooking, Deshong—who told the woman his name was Carlos Cartagena—went into the bathroom. When he emerged, he was wearing a bandana and sunglasses and holding a knife. The victim told investigators Deshong said, “Now you are going to live out your favorite fantasy.”
Deshong then physically and sexually assaulted the victim, causing abrasion to both sides of her face, slight redness in her neck, bruising/redness around her mouth, a missing tooth, a cut on her neck, bruising on the nose and ripped-out hair.
The victim was able to escape the assault and called police from a neighbor's house. They arrived on scene at approximately 6:20 p.m. and found Deshong wearing the victim’s robe and methamphetamine in his clothes that were left at the victim’s apartment.
Investigators say Deshong stated in an interview that he approached the victim because “she looked like a nice lady.”
On April 24, he pleaded guilty to aggravated indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault – forcible compulsion, aggravated assault, strangulation, false identification to law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault.
A judge sentenced Deshong to 6.5 - 13 years in prison.
The DA's Office reminds Lancaster County residents of the following resources that are available to victims of sexual assault:
YWCA Lancaster runs a 24-hour sexual assault hotline, 717-392-7273, that connects callers to free, confidential counseling and therapy services for community members impacted by sexual abuse, harassment or assault.
Lancaster County's designated rape crisis center at the YWCA Lancaster provides no cost counseling and therapy for survivors and significant others impacted by sexual abuse, harassment or assault. Contact 717-869-5009 or wehearyou@ywcalancaster.org for more information or to schedule an appointment.
