By Lisa Pett

A man who broke into several student residences near the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and sexually assaulting one student was sentenced Tuesday to five years behind bars, followed by five years of extended supervision.

Nelly Makalin, 33, pleaded guilty in June to one count of 3rd degree sexual assault and two counts of criminal trespass.

On October 31, 2014 a woman called 911 to report she had woken up in her bedroom after a night out to find a strange man in the room with her. The man climbed on top of her, pinning her to the bed and began kissing and fondling her. He removed her pants when she managed to escape to the bathroom and call police. The man had fled the apartment and taken the victim’s laptop. He left distinctive footprints in the snow leading to and away from the residence.

Two other incidents were reported that night, including another woman who said she awoke to find a man in her bedroom looking over her belongings. He left the apartment after being verbally confronted by the woman. Some male witnesses reported seeing and speaking to a man who was looking around at other houses and was described as carrying a laptop.

Police investigating the matter checked out a report of a man matching the suspect’s description named “Nellie.” Makalin’s name came up and he was listed as being on probation. When officers went to his listed address they found Makalin, along with a pair of shoes matching the prints outside the victim’s Briggs St. apartment and her stolen laptop.

Makalin apologized to his victims in court.

“I hope they will find a place in their hearts to forgive me for what I’ve done,” Makalin said.

The five-year prison sentence followed by a five-year term of supervision was the maximum sentence for third-degree sexual assault. Makalin was also sentenced to two concurrent prison terms of a year behind bars, followed by a year of extended supervision on each of the two counts of criminal trespass.

Portage County Assistant District Attorney David Knaapen read a letter from the victim of the sexual assault. She did not attended the sentencing but said that she lost her sense of security after the incident.

“It all still feels like a terrible dream, one that still keeps coming back,” Knaapen read.

Makalin was ordered to have no contact with any of the victims as a condition of his extended supervision.