A former Gloucester Point resident faces a maximum four life terms plus 20 years in prison in connection with the brutal sexual assault of a woman in May. James Kenneth Tustin, 23, pleaded guilty to charges of rape, sodomy, breaking and entering, robbery and sexual object penetration in Gloucester Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Gloucester Commonwealth’s Attorney Holly Smith said the victim was a post-doctoral student who was temporarily in the county to collaborate on a research project. She had returned to her studio apartment on Bellehaven Drive in Gloucester on May 19 after spending time with her husband at their home several states away.

Upon returning, the victim noticed several slats were missing from the blinds in the window adjacent to her bed. Smith said just after midnight on May 20, Tustin, wearing boots, a ski cap, hooded sweatshirt, gloves and a bandanna over his face, broke into the victim’s apartment through the back door.

Smith said the victim jumped out ...