A former local basketball star was sentenced Friday to 3 to 6 years in state prison for taking his ex-girlfriend to a Maryland hotel against her will and slashing her throat.

The crimes occurred over a four-week period in January 2006.

Akeem K.M. Washington, 22, apologized to his ex-girlfriend during the hearing before Lancaster County Judge Paul K. Allison, who called the attack "horrendous."

"I'd like to apologize to Paula Perez for the pain and stress I've put her through," Washington said. "I don't know what went through my mind at the time of the incident."

Washington and Perez, 20, dated for three years until Perez ended the relationship in October 2005. They have a 3-year-old son.

Perez sobbed in the courtroom gallery as Washington spoke.

Assistant District Attorney Susan E. Ellison told Allison that Washington was angry at Perez because he mistakenly believed she was dating another man.

"I've seen a lot of victims crumble under the pressure and stress," Ellison said. "Ms. Perez is scared and has struggled with fear and depression. But she held herself together. She can't be weak because of him."

Ellison also said Washington should not be given preferential treatment because he was a basketball star.

"He was a high school basketball star, and he's been lauded for that," Ellison said. "But he went to college and floundered."

Defense attorney Douglas H. Cody told  Allison that Washington is the victim of a poor childhood that left him with an absent father and drug addicted mother.

"How could he do such a thing? There is no explanation. (Washington) doesn't have one," Cody said. "He snapped. He screwed up the life of Miss Perez not just through physical injuries, but also the mental and emotional impact."

Washington pleaded guilty Jan. 2 to  aggravated assault, burglary, simple assault, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and intimidation of a witness.

He has served about a year in county prison but will be transferred to Camp Hill State Prison within a few weeks.

Allison admonished Washington and urged him to change.

"This incident was horrendous, especially the second incident, which occurred at time when a (protection-from-abuse order) was issued. It's completely unforgivable," Allison said. "The defendant does have potential. I hope he utilizes his time in state prison."

Allison also sentenced Washington to 10 years of probation and prohibited him from having contact with Perez or her family.

According to court testimony, after the "tumultuous" relationship ended, Washington attempted several reconciliations with Perez but was rebuffed.

On Jan. 3, 2006, Washington called Perez and asked to see their son. He arrived a short time later and ordered Perez and the boy outside, police said.

When Perez refused, he choked her on the bed. Washington eventually got Perez and the boy into his car.

Washington drove west to York, bought some duct tape and told Perez, "You're gonna disappear for a while. You're gonna be lying in the woods," according to court documents.

Washington also told his son to "say goodbye to his mother because he would never see her again."

The three arrived at a Ramada Inn near Baltimore, and Perez fled to a nearby restaurant, police said. She asked the restaurant employees to call police.

Lancaster city police charged Washington with simple assault, terroristic threats and false imprisonment. He was released after posting $50,000 bail.

Perez obtained a protection-from-abuse order Jan. 4, 2006.

Washington returned to Perez's Juniata Street home about 7 a.m. Jan. 31, 2006, with a box cutter. He woke Perez, accused her of seeing another man and began checking her cell phone for calls to men.

Washington attacked Perez and demanded she drop the charges against him for taking her to Maryland.

The pair fought for about an hour before Washington pulled out a box cutter and held it against Perez's neck.

Washington stood behind Perez and said, "I'm sorry to have to do this," then slashed her throat, police said.

Surgeons closed the wound, which was not life-threatening.

After wounding Perez, Washington retrieved a utility knife from another room, smeared Perez's blood on it and told her to tell medics their son had accidentally cut her, police said.

He also made Perez tell that story to a 911 dispatcher.

Washington told Perez he would kill her if she told police what really happened. He fled before police arrived but was arrested a short time later.

Washington, who is 6 foot 9 inches tall, played center for the 2002-03 McCaskey High School basketball team.

As a senior, he averaged 10 points a game for the Red Tornadoes while helping them to a 25-7 record and a sectional championship.

He also played basketball as a freshman at Alvernia College in Reading. He averaged 7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game in the 2003-04 season.

E-mail Brett Lovelace at blovelace@lnpnews.com.