Convicted Sex Offender Accused of Attacking Neighbor in North Branford | News

From the Hartford Courant

Convicted Sex Offender Accused of Attacking Neighbor in North Branford

By HILDA MUÑOZ, Courant Staff Writer

May 8, 2008, 11:07 AM EDT

NORTH BRANFORD — A convicted sex offender was arrested Wednesday on charges that he tried raping his 82-year-old neighbor last month.

Police say 49-year-old Joseph Von Britton broke into the woman's home on Middletown Avenue before dawn on April 27 and covered her face with a pillow and blanket, police said. DNA evidence left at the scene lead investigators Von Britton, police said.

He is charged with criminal attempt to commit first-degree sexual assault, first-degree unlawful restraint and first-degree burglary.

The victim, who lived alone, told police she fought back by grabbing the man's hand and screaming for help, police said. The attacker ran away after a brief struggle, police said.

A police dog led officers to a home 100 yards away from the victim's home, but the resident could not be reached, police said. Investigators received news on Monday of the positive DNA match at the state forensic lab, police said.

Von Britton was convicted of first-degree sexual assault in 1995 and of third-degree and fourth-degree sexual assault in 1993, according to the state sex offender registry.