Homeless woman heads to prison for beating, robbing elderly man

A woman was sentenced to six years in prison and five years of probation Wednesday in connection with the vicious beating of an elderly Riverhead man at his Glenwood Village home on New Years Eve.

Investigators said Julia Townsend, 38, forcibly entered the 84-year-old victim’s home at the mobile home park and beat him unconscious. The man, who said he knew Ms. Townsend, awoke a few hours later and found a large amount of cash and jewelry missing. He was treated by responding Riverhead ambulance workers and then transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center. Police are not identifying the victim.

Ms. Townsend, who police said had no fixed address at the time of her arrest, pleaded guilty in Suffolk County Criminal Court to a first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary and second-degree assault in June, according to records. Prosecutors had originally requested a prison sentence of eight years in the case.