Man who choked prostitute with belt gets 15 years in prison

A 27-year-old man was sentenced 15 years to life in prison Monday for choking a prostitute with his belt in a motel room, and then stealing cash from her purse, authorities said.

The man, Cuong Duong, arranged a meeting last year with the prostitute at the Princess Inn motel in Westminster, the Orange County District Attorney’s office said.

When the prostitute arrived, Duong told the victim he forgot money and then pretended to leave the hotel.

But surveillance video showed that Duong rode the motel’s elevator to the first floor, and then straight back up without getting out.

Duong then entered the motel room, and strangled the victim from behind with the belt, according to the district attorney’s office.

The woman awoke later with a towel over her face, and $1,000 stolen from her bag. Duong was gone.

Duong was later arrested and charged with attempted murder, burglary and false imprisonment.

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