A 72-year-old Akron woman wasn’t in court Tuesday to face the neighbor who admitted to breaking into her home and raping and beating her.
She told prosecutors she never wants to see Billy Gene Patterson again.
The victim, however, signed off on an agreement with Patterson that gave him a 15-year prison sentence.
Patterson, 19, pleaded guilty Tuesday to rape, aggravated burglary and felonious assault under an agreement with prosecutors. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Joy Malek Oldfield sentenced Patterson to 10 years for the rape and five years each for the aggravated burglary and felonious assault charges, with the five-year sentences to be served concurrently but consecutively with the rape prison term.
Prosecutors dropped the other charges against Patterson of kidnapping, burglary and gross sexual imposition. He faced up to 30 years in prison for the charges for which he pleaded guilty.
Patterson will be a Tier 3 sex offender, which means he will be required to register his address every 90 days for the rest of his life after he’s released from prison.
Prosecutors say Patterson climbed through a neighbor’s bedroom window Sept. 24, beat her with his fists, strangled her until she was nearly unconscious and raped her. The victim suffered black eyes, a bloody nose and a split lip that required stitches.
“This was a heinous, brutal act that has severely traumatized the victim and is deserving of a lengthy prison sentence,” Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a prepared statement, noting that Patterson had known the victim for nearly 10 years.
Sarah Margaret Hulburt, Patterson’s attorney, said the man took responsibility for what he did from the beginning.
“He understands he committed a terrible wrong against someone he knew a very long time,” she said. “He is very remorseful.”
Patterson apologized to the victim.
Oldfield noted that Patterson was on probation for a drug charge when the rape happened. She said he failed to comply with the terms of his probation “in a most heinous manner.”
Oldfield sentenced Patterson to six months in prison for probation violation, with the time to be served concurrently with his 15-year sentence on the other charges.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.