FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Date: | April 3, 2024 |
| Contact: | Emily Lowe Public Information Officer 208-287-7700 |
BOISE – Matthew Blazek, 47, will serve up to 45 years in prison for the brutal attack and rape of a former partner.
In January of this year, an Ada County jury found Mr. Blazek guilty of rape, use of a deadly weapon, forcible penetration, domestic violence in the presence of a child, and attempted strangulation. On Tuesday, the Honorable Ada County District Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace sentenced Mr. Blazek for those crimes to up to 45 years imprisonment with 20 years fixed before being eligible for parole.
In the early morning hours of July 16, 2023, the defendant entered a former partner’s residence through a window when the victim woke up to find him standing over her. Over the next few hours, the defendant battered the woman in front of a young child, strangled her repeatedly, threatened her with a knife, threatened to kill her, and raped her. The attack left the victim with injuries over much of her body. The woman reported the attack to police as soon as Mr. Blazek had left the residence, and she felt safe.
The defendant was found to be a high-risk to reoffend, and Judge Yee-Wallace noted his behavior was “predatory.”
“The facts of this case are chilling, and I want to acknowledge this woman’s courage throughout the entire court process,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts. “I also want to thank the Ada County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and my trial team for their hard work on this case.”
More information about resources for sexual assault and domestic abuse victims can be found at Ada County Victim Services Center website www.adacountyvictimcenter.org and the Women’s and Children’s Alliance website at www.wcaboise.org.