Braunstein gets 18 to life

(New York-WABC, June 18, 2007) (WABC) -- A former fashion writer, who dressed as a firefighter to bluff his way into a co-worker's apartment where he sexually tortured her for 13 hours, was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison on Monday.

"I just thought I would see America and die; you know, have the cops shoot me to death," Peter Braunstein, 43, told the judge at his sentencing for kidnapping, robbing and sexually abusing a former colleague at Fairchild publications, parent of Women's Wear Daily and W magazine.

During Braunstein's four-week trial, jurors heard sensational testimony from his former girlfriend and coworker about their unusual sexual activities. They also hear his musings on killing Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour and dispatching her to a hell guarded by rats.

Jurors heard, too, excerpts from Braunstein's journals, in which he said he posed as a Hurricane Katrina victim to get free meals while in Tennessee.

Although the jurors rejected Braunstein's mental illness defense, state Supreme Court Justice Thomas Farber said as he imposed the punishment, "Any sentence I impose on this profoundly disturbed man may result in his dying in jail."

"No rational system could view this situation in any way that would resolve this defendant of guilt," the judge said.

Nevertheless, Braunstein, given a chance to address the court, told Farber he wanted to "sort of explain the whole crime spree" from his perspective. He said he had intended "to see America" and then wait for police to kill him.

"When I attacked the victim, I was in her apartment and after an hour it dawned on me I didn't know why I was there," Braunstein told the judge. "So I just watched the TV and waited until dawn and then I left."

"This irrationality continued throughout my quest," Braunstein told the judge. "It was sort of suicide-based."

Braunstein was accused of setting off smoke bombs in the hallway outside his victim's Manhattan apartment in 2005 as a ruse to get inside. He drugged her, tied her to a bed, stripped her naked, and videotaped her.

Before Braunstein spoke, Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal asked the judge to sentence him to the maximum of 25 years to life, calling him "an angry, determined and vengeful man" and "a danger to society."

Rosenthal had argued during trial that the victim, who did not come to court for the sentencing, had been a surrogate for everyone the defendant disliked.

Braunstein's lawyer, Robert C. Gottlieb, argued during trial that his client was mentally ill and should not be held criminally responsible. He said Monday that he would appeal the conviction within the next 30 days.

The judge sentenced Braunstein to a total of 20 years for sex abuse and robbery; an 18-years-to-life kidnapping sentence is concurrent.

Outside court, Braunstein's father expressed disapproval of the sentence.

"I think the sentence was very harsh," said Alberto Braunstein. "It was like he killed somebody."

But Gottlieb said: "The judge is to be commended for not bowing to the screaming tabloid headlines." He noted that Farber could have imposed the maximum sentence of 25 years to life but did not.

Last week, Braunstein sent a nine-page letter to the judge asking for leniency. He described planning the crime - which conceded a key prosecution point - while arguing at the same that he was, nevertheless, mentally ill.

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