St. Paul Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Sex Assault

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A St. Paul man convicted of breaking into a woman's apartment and raping her in front of two of her young children has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Reports say 26-year-old Tyron Joshua Thomas pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual assault. He remained silent as he was sentenced Friday.

Prosecutors say the woman was asleep March 23 with her two sons, ages 4 and 5, in her bed. The woman told investigators she awoke to find Thomas in her bedroom.

The woman says he ignored her pleas to leave, instead beating her and repeatedly sexually assaulting her.

Defense attorney Thomas Donohue says Thomas was sexually abused by a relative as a child. He says his client is "not a heartless, soulless man."