Gales Ferry man gets 16 months for breaking into ex-girlfriend's apartment

A 31-year-old Gales Ferry man who forced his way into his ex-girlfriend's apartment in July 2012 was sentenced Thursday to 16 months in prison.

Joshua Chapman had pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal trespass and admitted to a probation violation. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation following a three-year prison sentence for an assault conviction.

"He could have been charged with home invasion on this," said prosecutor Lawrence J. Tytla. "I hope he thinks about this and we don't see him back here. I'm not optimistic, but stranger things have happened."

Chapman had gone to the Montville home of a former girlfriend on July 14, 2012, according to Tytla. The woman asked him to leave, but he forced the front door open and confronted her and her current boyfriend in the master bedroom. The boyfriend tackled Chapman and held him until police arrived, Tytla said.

The woman told court officials she wants nothing to do with Chapman, whom she dated for about four months in 2011, according to Tytla.

Chapman does not agree with the state's version of events and pleaded guilty under the Alford Doctrine. Chapman had also begun using drugs again while on probation, according to Tytla.