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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Blaming alcohol for the reason why he sexually assaulted a woman, a remorseful Mark C. Danko told a Luzerne County judge Friday he would accept whatever sentence given to him.</p><p>He received at least 2-1/2 years in state prison.</p><p>Danko, 50, of Bowman Street, Wilkes-Barre, wanted to directly apologize to the woman, who is known to him, but was told to address Judge Michael T. Vough.</p><p>Hanover Township police arrested Danko in July 2018 on charges he assaulted and took pictures of a woman who became unconscious after a night of drinking margaritas inside a South Main Street residence in February 2018. She told police she consumed two drinks and was on her third margarita when she went to a bathroom and began feeling lightheaded and dizzy, court records say.</p><p>She told police she could not remember what happened after she exited the bathroom but later woke up on a couch as Danko assaulted her. She was unable to move and speak and remembered seeing flashes as she believed pictures were being taken, court records say.</p><p>During an emotional hearing before Vough, the woman tearfully described how the assault impacted her and her family, calling Danko a &#8220;monster.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;This monster destroyed my life,&#8221; the woman told Vough. &#8220;This was not a moment of him losing his mind and drinking too much. He intended to do what he did to me. He is a selfish monster.</p><p>&#8220;What kind of human would do this?&#8221; she said.</p><p>Danko&#8217;s attorney, Qiana Murphy Lehman, said her client took responsibility by pleading guilty to aggravated indecent assault to avoid a trial and having the woman relive the acts.</p><p>&#8220;He is sorry for what happened and took responsibility. He didn&#8217;t want to put the victim through a trial,&#8221; Lehman said.</p><p>Danko initially wanted to apologize to the woman by taking a step toward her but was told to stand still and face Vough.</p><p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine the mental anguish she is going through. I can&#8217;t imagine any woman going through that. I understand she&#8217;s hurt mentally and her spirituality is questioned. I hope her faith allows her to heal,&#8221; Danko said.</p><p>Danko said his actions caused his marriage to break up as his wife filed for divorce after his arrest.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t condone what happened that night. I drank well too much that night and I lost control,&#8221; Danko said.</p><p>&#8220;Well Mr. Danko, you decided to sexually assault (woman). It&#8217;s an intentional act by you. I don&#8217;t care how much alcohol you had in your system which destroyed her family and your family. That is nobody&#8217;s fault but your own fault,&#8221; Vough said.</p><p>Lehman requested a prison sentence of 10 to 23 months at the county correctional facility with the opportunity for work release that would had allowed Danko to continue full-time employment.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Brittany Quinn asked for a sentence of 22 to 46 months.</p><p>Noting how the acts impacted two families, Vough sentenced Danko to 2&#189; years to seven years in state prison and ordered him to lifetime registration of his address under the state&#8217;s Megan&#8217;s Law.</p><p>Danko, who was free on $75,000 bail, was immediately taken to the county correctional facility in shackles.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_Mark-Danko-07062018-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Danko </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_Mark-Danko-07062018-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Danko </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Danko called ‘monster’ by woman he sexually assaulted