Convicted rapist awaits sentencing

YOUNGSTOWN -- A Niles man, who has been in Mahoning County jail for more than 22 months, will be sentenced at 11 a.m. Tuesday on seven rape counts and one count each of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and violation of a protection order.
Bobbie Peterson, 53, faces anywhere from three years to 95 years in prison when he appears before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Natasha Frenchko, assistant county prosecutor who is recommending a 13-year prison term, said a sentence of three years would be unlikely.
Peterson pleaded guilty to the above charges on Thursday before Judge James C. Evans, who was substituting for Judge Durkin.
The prosecution agreed to drop one count each of aggravated burglary and violation of a protection order, which would have extended the available sentencing range to 110 years.
Peterson was charged with forcing a woman he knows at knifepoint into her South Side residence when she arrived home from work on April 9, 2005, and raping her repeatedly while she screamed and cried for him to stop.
Police, given a description of Peterson's car, spotted it on Market Street and arrested and jailed him the same day. His bond was set at 2 million.
Peterson's trial was rescheduled 10 times over nearly two years, mostly at the request of the defense, and Ron Yarwood is his fourth lawyer.