Felon linked by DNA guilty of 2005 assault

COURT WATCH

EL CAJON: A convicted felon was found guilty by an El Cajon Superior Court jury yesterday of trying to rape a woman outside a Spring Valley liquor store in December 2005.

Muhammad Hassan was convicted of forcing himself on the 25-year-old woman about 5:40 p.m. Dec. 29, 2005, in the parking lot of Spring Liquor on Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Deputy District Attorney Renee Palermo said.

The woman was able to fight off Hassan after he pinned her down inside and outside her car.

The case was unsolved for more than a year until DNA testing turned up a match with Hassan in March, Palermo said. Hassan, 25, has previous convictions for receiving stolen property and recklessly evading police.

Judge Laura W. Halgren set a Sept. 12 sentencing hearing, at which Hassan faces up to seven years in prison.