The Solon Township man who tried to abduct a 19-year-old Sparta woman last January could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Leon Howard Anderson, 49, was sentenced August 20 to a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 90 years for assault with intent to commit a felony.

Leon Anderson

According to police, Anderson pulled up alongside the woman while she was walking in the village of Sparta and asked for directions. When she pointed in another direction and started to answer him, he jumped from the truck and assaulted her when she wouldn’t get into the truck. Another vehicle with three passengers pulled up to the intersection and witnessed the attack. When one of them opened their car door, Anderson jumped back in his truck and fled, driving past the stopped vehicle. They got his license plate number and called police. Police tracked the license plate number to a truck owned by Anderson, but the license plate was reportedly missing.

Anderson pleaded innocent to the charges, and testified that he was with family at the time of the assault. His parents also testified on his behalf. He was convicted last month.

Anderson served time previously on two counts of 2nd degree attempted criminal sexual conduct, and one count of criminal sexual conduct 3rd degree, for an offense in 1993.

Judge Mark Trusock exceeded the sentencing guidelines (3-13 years) for Anderson’s crime because he reportedly believed that the sentencing guidelines didn’t take into account Anderson’s predilection for assaulting young girls and didn’t make provision for his past crimes.

Besides the prison term, Anderson was assessed $700 in court costs, $60 for crime victim rights, and the minimum state fee of $68. He was also given credit for 223 days served.