Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Tony Lewis Serial Rape Case: Riley County, Kansas Update 11-2010 (Life no parole)

Video and Update: Sentencing.
"In September a jury found Tony Lewis guilty of sodomy, rape, kidnapping, robbery, assault and burglary. Monday, the victims were relieved to see what they believe is American Justice at its best. Now that Lewis is serving five life terms without the possibility of parole and four other counts of that equal 252 consecutive months in prison. The victims, their families, and Lewis's family were all in attendance. At the end of the sentencing the Judge acknowledged the fact that Lewis's family wrote letters about who they believe he really is, but the judge said he saw no evidence of that because Tony Lewis showed no remorse. Tony Lewis will be at the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Video HERE:"

More Here:
 http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-ks--longrapesentence,0,5907582.story

UPDATE: in case you have not heard, he was found "Guilty" on most charges. ( 9 Felonies, including aggravated rape and kidnapping; 
Sentencing on November 15th)
This man, on the planet for just two decades, was responsible for a lot of pain. After his DNA was collected for the recent trial, it was matched to earlier cold cases.
Much thanks to the SANE nurses and the Riley County Prosecutor, along with the law enforcement investigation effort.
Now, this was a real case of the "jump out of the bushes" stranger who grabbed young women walking across parking lots in the evening, forced them at gunpoint to drive to ATMs and get money, wore a mask, etc. This is the type of rape that women lose freedoms over: no open windows at night, no evening walks in the park, no hiking or running alone. Sadness.

About a year ago, a man was arrested for multiple rapes in the Junction City/Ft. Riley area.

To answer many of you who have asked. NO, This man is NOT the so called "serial rapist" who commited crimes in the Manhattan/Lawrence area for the past decade.
If you want to read about that rapist's crimes,
start HERE  and HERE.

At the moment, regarding the Lewis crimes, you can see a pic and read comments posted by some who knew him, and one who says she was one of his victims here:  WIBW .

Arrest Summary: Soldier arrested in area rape cases" May 31st, 2009 by Cathy Dawes
A suspect in the recent abduction and rape cases in Manhattan and Junction city has been taken into custody. Officer Wade Smith of the Riley County Police Department stopped 19 year old Tony Lewis of Ft. Riley in a residential area in Manhattan. Through investigation, Officer Smith recognized the subject matched the suspect descriptors. Detectives from both the RCPD and the Junction City Police Department along with Military CID agents executed search warrants on the suspect’s vehicle and barracks and arrested Lewis for 3 separate incidents that occurred in Junction City with other charges expected as the investigation continues. RCPD captain Jeff Hoopers encourages anyone else that has been assaulted to come forward. Lewis, who is originally from Virginia, has been charged with 3-counts of aggravated kidnapping, 2 counts of rape, 2 counts of aggravated robbery, 2 counts of aggravated sodomy, 1 count of aggravated burglary and 1 count of criminal threat. Hooper adds that charges will also be made in Riley County. Lewis is being held in the Geary County Detention Center as the investigation continues."
CHARGES:
On October 16, 2009, the fhe following was published by AP:
MANAHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- A Fort Riley soldier is facing charges in two Kansas counties on multiple counts, including rape and burglary.  Tony Lewis has been charged in Geary and Riley counties.
Lewis made his initial appearance in Riley County court on Wednesday on charges of two counts of rape, aggravated kidnapping, three counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and burglary. In Geary County Lewis faces three counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated sodomy, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of criminal threats.
Lewis is in the Geary County jail on $1 million bond and faces a $1 million in Riley County. His next court appearance is Nov. 3 in Riley County.

Cases like these are not always "slam dunks" in  court. It is very difficult to prosecute rape cases. Prosecutors have become increasingly stymied in attempts to bring out the truth. (Read: Whores of the Court) 

You notice that in the first story, anyone who may have been victimized by this man is urged to come forward, The fact is, the more that crime victims report crimes, the easier it is to prosecute as well as prevent criminal activity.
Yes, I know about the difficulties in coming forward. I have written about it many times here.

Thank you to all who bear this burden.

2 comments:

  1. While you never know if you will be a rape victim, there are ways to protect yourself against being attacked. There's a ways that you'll make the world a little safer for yourself. Take a self-defense class. You will get all the information you need and skills to protect yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Investigative services: I am sure you are hoping to help folks,
    and i have not yet clicked on your name to see if you are selling a service, but i would like to mention that most rapes
    --not all-- occur because the rapist has made sure that someone is incapable of defending themselves, whether through actively drugging them or waiting for a person to be vulnerable through sleep or alcohol.
    So-- a person can be well taught, do everything right, and still be raped.
    I am FOR self-defense training as a way to get assertive, get fit, get smart, learn good things-- but it is impossible to say that taking a class can keep you from being raped.
    Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete