Man arrested for sexual assault of 7-year-old

A 22-year-old male was taken into custody after parents discovered him in their residence at The Park at Galleria Apartments. Police report the suspect sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl in the apartment before the girl’s father discovered the intruder.

The parents woke up early Sunday morning after hearing a noise and saw the suspect, later identified as Newton Njuguna Githiri, in the apartment. The father fought and restrained Githiri while the mother called police.

“The father did a great job,” said Hoover Police Department Public Information Officer Gregg Rector. “He didn’t know [about the sexual assault] at the time. He just knew he had an intruder in the apartment, and he certainly decided to restrain him.”

Githiri reportedly entered the apartment through a sliding door on the second floor. Rector said while Githiri had to climb to get to the second floor, topography in the area meant the climb was not exceedingly difficult.

Detectives obtained warrants on Monday, and Githiri has been charged with second degree burglary, first degree attempted sodomy with a victim less than 12 years old, first degree attempted sodomy with force, sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old and first degree sexual abuse with force.

The total bond on these charges is $2.5 million. Githiri was transferred from Hoover City Jail to Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham early Tuesday.