A city man was convicted Tuesday for a second time of breaking into a woman's house in New Brunswick and sexually assaulting her in 2003.
Bruce Sterling, at his 2006 trial, was convicted second time Tuesday, for sexually assaulting a New Brunswick woman in her home in 2003. His first conviction was overturned. NEW BRUNSWICK -- A city man was convicted Tuesday for a second time of breaking into a woman's house in New Brunswick and sexually assaulting her in 2003.
Bruce Sterling, 45, was found guilty by a jury in Middlesex County of armed burglary, aggravated sexual assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and terroristic threats.
The jury deliberated for about two hours before finding Sterling guilty, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey.
Carey said Assistant Prosecutor Lisa Miralles Walsh presented evidence and testimony, showing Sterling climbed through the window of a home in New Brunswick, took a knife from the kitchen and sexually assaulted a 25-year-old woman in her bedroom at 3:30 a.m. on June 9, 2003.
Sterling was previously tried and convicted in the case, but the conviction was overturned by the N.J. Supreme Court in 2013 on the basis of judicial error.
Sterling, who was a hospital emergency room worker, was convicted in 2006 and sentenced in 2007 to 80 years in prison for burglarizing a North Brunswick home, raping a 21-year-old Rutgers University student, the New Brunswick woman, and a 31-year-old Edison woman after sneaking into their apartments between July 2002 and May 2005.
The Supreme Court justices said Sterling should have had separate trials and overturned two of the three convictions. The justices upheld the conviction for the attack on the Edison woman.
Sterling is already serving a 50-year sentence for his sexual assault conviction from Edison, asexual assault in New Brunswick and the armed burglary in North Brunswick.
He was arrested and charged when he attempted to break into a North Brunswick apartment and was chased by the homeowner. Police later found him hiding in the woods, authorities said.
An investigation linked him to the other sexual assault cases.
Sterling will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Alberto Rivas on Jan. 7, 2016 when he faces up to 20 years in state prison.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
