A Minot man has been sentenced to serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary and the attempted rape of a pregnant woman in October 2023.

Jeremiah Matogo Obir Songa, 27, Minot, appeared in North Central District Court in Minot on Monday for his sentencing, which followed the entry of guilty pleas to Class A felony attempted gross sexual imposition (GSI), Class B felony burglary and a Class A misdemeanor disobedience of judicial order at his preliminary hearing on Dec. 7, 2023. Songa represented himself at the preliminary hearing.

According to court documents, Songa was charged following an incident where he kicked down the front door of the victim’s home and attempted to rape her before being stopped by another household resident who returned from shopping. Songa had been ordered to maintain a court ordered 100-foot distance provision from the residence at the time.

The presentence investigation ordered by Judge Richard Hagar was granted an extension in January and Songa was held at the Ward County Jail before his sentencing on Monday.

Hagar sentenced Songa to first serve 10 years of a 20-year sentence with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the GSI charge, but was granted credit for 177 days already served. Songa was ordered to complete 10 years of supervised probation following his release and to register as a sex offender. Hagar also required Songa to abide by a no-contact order with the victims in the case, maintain a 200-foot distance provision from them and their residence. Hagar handed down a 10-year concurrent sentence for the burglary charge and 177 days for the misdemeanor.

Songa was also assessed $1,025 in court fines and fees.