Thursday, September 20, 2001
The prosecution is recommending that the defendant serve seven years in prison.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- One day after admitting on the witness stand that he forced a 17-year-old girl to have sex with him, a 27-year-old city man has pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and one count of kidnapping.
James Purdy entered the pleas Wednesday in the courtroom of Judge W. Wyatt McKay. Purdy had pleaded innocent to the charges and a jury began hearing the case Monday.
Purdy will be sentenced after a background check by the county adult probation department. Purdy could receive up to 40 years in prison.
"I am going to ask the judge during sentencing to make sure James receives some type of counseling," said defense counsel, Atty. Anthony Consoldane of the Trumbull County Public Defender's Commission.
"My client is borderline mentally retarded and needs some help."
Atty. Thomas Wrenn, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, is going to ask the judge to sentence Purdy to seven years in prison.
Police say Purdy raped the woman July 6, 2000, in Packard Park.
Victim's testimony: The victim testified Monday that she did not know Purdy before the day she was raped. She said she was riding her bike and Purdy was walking in front of her. She said she stopped and asked him if he wanted a drink of her ice tea.
The woman told the jurors that Purdy asked her if she had a boyfriend and she said no. She said then Purdy asked her if he could be her boyfriend and she again said no.
The woman said Purdy then grabbed her wrist and forced her to go with him to a secluded area of the park, where he raped her.