Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Connecticut man was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison for violently assaulting his estranged wife in her apartment building in November 2023 and barricading them both inside of her home until police arrived and arrested him.
Ubay Muhammad, 38, was convicted on April 25, 2024, after a trial before Judge Christopher Quinn of Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony); Burglary in the First Degree (a B violent felony); Kidnapping in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree (an E felony); Aggravated Criminal Contempt (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (an A misdemeanor). He was acquitted on one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony).
The defendant was sentenced on August 26, 2024, to 20 years in prison and five years’ post release supervision.
“With his two children watching and screaming in horror, this defendant lunged at his separated wife, dragged her into an empty elevator, and slashed her across the face as she struggled and fought to get away from his violence,” said DA Donnelly. “The terror only continued when Ubay Muhammad shuttered himself and his victim in her apartment, threatening her with the blade until police arrived and knocked down the door. This defendant’s attack permanently scarred this family physically and mentally, and his intense brutality will now cost him two decades of his freedom.”
DA Donnelly said that the defendant and victim were going through a separation and custody proceedings involving their shared children.
On November 10, 2022, the defendant went to the victim’s apartment building on Colombia Street in Hempstead wearing dark clothing, glasses, and a mask and snuck into the building.
The victim left her apartment with her 8- and 5-year-old children and took the elevator to the ground floor where the defendant attacked her with a 13-inch knife.
Muhammad pulled the woman back into the elevator where he slashed her in the face, dragged her back into her apartment, and barricaded them both inside while he continued to threaten her with a knife.
Two maintenance workers who heard the assault tried to help the victim. When they could not, they called police who arrived on scene, kicked the door down to the apartment, and gained entry.
The victim was taken to NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island where she was treated for a 4-inch-deep laceration to her face. The injury caused significant nerve damage and left a large scar. The victim also suffered additional puncture wounds to her body.
The defendant was arrested on November 10, 2022, by members of the Hempstead Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Unit Chief Rachael Whalen of the Elder Abuse Unit and Assistant District Attorney Mila Kelly both of the Special Victims Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Emma Slane and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. Muhammad is represented by Doug Rankin, Esq.