Makubani S. Reel, 26, has been sentenced to six months in jail for attempted grand larceny, in connection with a break-in at the home of a Centreville woman. He has no fixed address.

The incident occurred Oct. 6, 2005 in the 6400 block of Paddington Lane in the Lee Overlook community. The woman, 28 — who knew Reel — and her 5-year-old son, were sound asleep.

But according to Fairfax County police, she awoke around 4 a.m. to find Reel in her bedroom. And he was armed with a knife. Police said he assaulted her and fled.

A neighbor heard the woman scream and called police. They responded to find mother and child running out of their apartment. Officers pursued Reel on foot and, shortly afterward, were able to apprehend him nearby.

They charged him with burglary, abduction and assault and battery. On Nov. 7 in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Reel was convicted of assault and battery and sentenced to two months in jail. The abduction charge was dropped.

At the same time, his burglary charge was amended to attempted grand larceny. After being indicted Nov. 21 by the grand jury, he pleaded guilty to that offense, Dec. 12, in Circuit Court.

Reel returned Feb. 17 for sentencing, and Judge Kathleen MacKay sentenced him to two years behind bars, suspending 18 months, for six months total to serve. She also placed him on two years supervised probation.

<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs