Tulsa Man Sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Strangulation

TULSA, Okla. – In January, a federal jury convicted Denzil Austin Berryman of aggravated sexual abuse and assault by strangulation in Indian country.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Berryman, 38, to 210 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Berryman will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill further ordered Berryman to pay $5,375 in restitution.

According to trial testimony, in June 2023, Berryman was with the victim at her apartment. Berryman became enraged when he saw that the victim had candy that he believed was a gift from someone else. Berryman began screaming at the victim, slapped her, shoved the candy down her throat, punched the bedroom door, broke several electronics in the apartment, and threatened to harm her cat.

The victim called 911. When officers responded, Berryman told officers he would leave. Berryman did not go and began crying and apologized to the victim. The victim allowed Berryman to return to her apartment. There, Berryman forced the victim into her bedroom, where he sexually assaulted her. When the victim asked Berryman to stop, he proceeded to strangle her. After passing out, the victim woke to Berryman forcibly raping her.

Berryman is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and will remain in custody pending transfer to the 
U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Stephen Scaife prosecuted the case.

The Office on Violence Against Women has resources for survivors of domestic violence. You can find information here.