Predator who sexually assaulted woman in elevator at Heights HEB sentenced to 20 years
Florian Kroll, 33, also attempted to sexually assault a 16-year-old girl walking home from school. “This is a predator that has a pattern of attacking and hurting women.”
HOUSTON – Man who sexually assaulted woman in elevator at Heights HEB in 2020 to go to jail.
Florian S. Kroll, 33, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
Editor’s note: The video above originally aired in 2020 before Kroll was charged, so we’ve blurred his face.
Kroll also pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault of a child because he attempted to assault a 16-year-old girl on her way home from school in north Houston. It happened on January 15, 2020, the day before the Heights case.
“This is a predator that has a pattern of attacking and hurting women when it’s free to roam,” Ogg said. “He was sentenced to spend the next two decades behind bars, where he can no longer harm or victimize women.”
Florian will have to serve at least half of his 20-year sentence before being eligible for parole. Since he pleaded guilty, he cannot appeal the conviction or prison sentence.
“This guilty plea puts the defendant in jail for many years and spares the victims the trauma of having to come to court to testify about their evidence,” Assistant District Attorney Tiera Johnson-Williams said.
Kroll was convicted of indecent exposure with a child in an unrelated 2015 case and sentenced to two years in prison. At the time of his arrest in 2020, he had not registered his address as a sex offender.
HEB victim shared her story
JulieAnna Collins shared her story with KHOU 11 News after her trip to the Heights Supermarket turned into a nightmare.
“He came up to me from behind and grabbed me from behind,” Collins said.
With help from another HEB customer, Collins fought back and broke free.
“And I started kicking the guy and hitting him on the head when he released me,” Collins told us.
He said the suspect escaped on a white skateboard.
San Pio X high school incident
After Kroll assaulted Conger, he headed north on North Shepherd towards St. Pius X High School where a basketball game was in progress.
Surveillance video showed him carrying a white skateboard, and staff noted he was acting “strange”.
“Once in the gym, his behavior was noticed by our on-campus security and he was escorted from the building,” said St. Pius spokesperson Jacquelynn Conger.
He came back the next day around time for his firing.
“Once he returned to campus, we started a shelter on site.”
Students were escorted to their cars or released to their parents only, but Kroll did not give up.
“We know he approached a student off campus, but we don’t know what happened,” Conger told us.
After both incidents, HPD said Kroll also fit the description of a skateboarding man seen following women in nearby Shepherd Park.
