Man convicted of sexually abusing a ‘nice lady’ after bringing her groceries

A Lancaster County man will spend several years in prison in 2022 for sexually assaulting a woman for whom he carried groceries home, prosecutors said.

Devin Deshong, 36, was sentenced last month to 6.5 to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault charges related to an incident on October 17, 2022 in Elizabethtown.

Deshong told investigators he approached the woman because “she seemed like a nice lady.” He told her his name was “Carlos Cartagena,” according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.

On the way to her house, he told the woman that there was an arrest warrant out for him and that he would turn himself in after he delivered the groceries, prosecutors said.

The woman offered to cook Deshong something to thank her for carrying her groceries. While she was cooking, Deshong went into her bathroom and came out wearing sunglasses and a headscarf. He held up a knife and told the woman, “Now you’re going to live out your favorite fantasy,” prosecutors said.

According to the prosecutor, Deshong physically and sexually abused the woman. Afterwards, she had bruises on her face, redness around her neck and mouth, a cut on her neck, a missing tooth and torn hair.

Prosecutors said the woman was able to escape and call police from a neighbor’s house. Officers found Deshong wearing the woman’s clothing. Methamphetamine was found in the clothing he left behind at the woman’s house.

The YWCA Lancaster 24-hour Sexual Assault Victims Hotline is available at 717-392-7273. The YWCA offers free, confidential counseling and therapy services for community members who have experienced sexual abuse, harassment or assault.