Niles man sentenced to 13 years for rape
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Niles man, who has been in Mahoning County Jail for more than 22 months, has been sentenced to 13 years in state prison on seven rape counts and one count each of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and violation of a protection order.
Bobbie Peterson, 53, was given the prison term Tuesday by Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who adopted the prosecution's sentencing recommendation.
Peterson, who pleaded guilty Thursday, was charged with forcing a woman he knows at knife-point into her South Side residence when she arrived home from work April 9, 2005, and raping her repeatedly.
The prosecution agreed to drop one count each of aggravated burglary and violation of a protection order.
Peterson's trial date was rescheduled 10 times, mostly at the request of the defense.