A Lancaster city man was sentenced to two to five years in state prison after he pleaded guilty last month to groping two women who were complete strangers to him on downtown streets in a series of incidents that occurred mere weeks apart.

Judge David Ashworth sentenced Jaime Perez, of the 400 block of High Street, after he pleaded guilty Dec. 22 to a single count of aggravated indecent assault without consent and two counts of indecent assault without consent.

Perez, 22, randomly assaulted two different victims as they walked along streets in downtown Lancaster in September and October 2024. Both victims were complete strangers to Perez.

In a letter to the court that was read aloud by Assistant District Attorney Callista Chartier, who prosecuted the case, one of the victims said that Perez’s actions have damaged her sense of independence, made her more afraid of her surroundings and forced her to rebuild her trust in others.

“I no longer feel as at ease as I used to walking on my own,” the victim wrote. “I overthink how my body will be perceived instead of enjoying my surroundings.”

Surveillance footage from the Lancaster Safety Coalition showed Perez running up behind one victim in the 100 block of East Orange Street and then grabbing her breasts and buttocks.

Days later Perez was again captured on Lancaster Safety Coalition surveillance video running up behind a second victim, this time in the 100 block of East Chestnut Street, and grabbing her buttocks and breasts. Perez also forced his hand onto the victim’s genitals, causing her pain after the incident.

When given the chance to explain himself Perez told the court he “wasn’t thinking of the consequences of [his] actions” and apologized to the victims, saying he regretted his conduct.

Lancaster City Bureau of Pollice Officer Isaac Witmer filed the charges.