FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 26, 2014
Contact: Heather F. Williamson
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
(703) 777-0242
STERLING MAN CONVICTED OF RAPE
JURY FIXES SENTENCE AT FIFTEEN YEARS
LEESBURG, Virginia – August 21, 2014. A two day trial ended with a jury finding Geovanni Amilcar Benitez-Giron, 38, guilty of rape.
Benitez-Giron and his family shared an apartment with the victim and her family for approximately two weeks in September 2013. In the early morning hours of September 24, 2013, Benitez-Giron entered the victim’s bedroom, locked the door behind him, climbed into bed with the victim, and raped her. The victim awoke to Benitez-Giron on top of her. The victim immediately began to scream, awaking other family members in the room. Benitez-Giron attempted to flee the residence, but other household members were able to restrain him until the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office arrived.
Over the course of the trial, Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gigi Lawless called nine witnesses to testify on behalf of the Commonwealth. Witnesses included the victim, first responders, a DNA expert, and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Additionally, Lawless played an extremely emotional 911 call made by the victim to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office on the night of the incident.
The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before returning a finding of guilt. After additional deliberations regarding sentencing, the jury returned a sentence of fifteen years. The case will be back in Circuit Court again on December 15, 2014 where a final sentencing hearing will be conducted before the Hon. Stephen E. Sincavage who presided over the multi-day trial.
"This was an extremely sensitive and emotional case for everyone involved," said Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Plowman. "We applaud the resilience and the courage of the victim and her family in assisting us see that the defendant was held accountable for this horrific act."
Pursuant to Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act, Benitez-Giron will also be required to register as a sex offender. Information about the Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry and those on it can be found on the Virginia State Police website: http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov.
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