1.24.12 Two Men Sentenced for Their Respective Roles in Kidnapping, Robbery, Sexual Attack, Rape of Stranded Victim
January 24, 2012 -- Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced Jerome Lee and Jamal Richards today for their respective roles in the kidnapping, robbery, sexual attack, and rape of a woman who was stranded and seeking help.
On May 22, 2010, Lee and Richards spotted a woman seeking assistance in the unit block of North Eutaw Street and offered to drive her home. When she entered the vehicle, Lee also got into back seat and sexually attacked her while Richards drove. Richards took the victim to a park and raped her while Lee continued his attack. The victim was able to escape, but as she attempted to flag down a van, Lee and Richards caught and forced her back into their vehicle. The defendants then stole her ATM card, demanded her personal identification number, and drove to multiple gas stations, where they withdrew cash from the victim's account. Before releasing her onto the street, both men sexually attacked the victim again.
A Baltimore jury convicted Richards on November 14, 2011, of first-degree rape, three counts of first-degree sex offense, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and robbery. Judge Welch sentenced him to life, suspend all but 45 years, for rape, 45 years to be served concurrently for the three sex offense counts, 10 years concurrent for kidnapping, 10 years consecutive for false imprisonment, 15 years concurrent for robbery, and three years of probation, for a total of life, suspend all but 55 years.
A Baltimore jury convicted Lee on November 30, 2011, of false imprisonment, kidnapping, and theft. Judge Welsh sentenced him to a total of life in prison, with all but 85 years suspended, and three years of probation.
Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer McAllister prosecuted the case.