Lang
8/21/19
The victim in an Iowa City sexual assault case detailed the toll of the her abuser’s actions in court Wednesday.
The now 20-year-old, through a written victim impact statement read by an advocate with the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, discussed the emotional and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of 56-year-old Jeffry Waite of Oakcrest Hill Road. Waite was found guilty last month on five counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse and one of Lascivious Acts with A Minor. On Wednesday he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the victim’s statement said Waite robbed her of her childhood and emotionally destroyed her family. She described Waite as a “sweaty and smelly man” who regularly snuck into her bedroom and forced himself on her.
The abuse began in May of 2015, when Waite touched the girl inappropriately while she was driving them to an appointment. That was the start of what became a series of sexual assaults, with Waite as the aggressor. The girl says Waite ignored her requests to stop during the sex acts. Police say the abuse continued through 2017.
The victim said Waite “emotionally tormented and obliterated” her from the time she was a child. She says she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, has a fear of crowds, has trouble sleeping, and suffers nightmares, panic attacks, depression and anxiety.
Judge Ian Thornhill said he believed every word of the victim’s testimony. Waite said he didn’t know why the jury would believe her.
Thornhill also denied Waite’s request for a new trial, saying the evidence supported the verdict. The prosecution has 30 days to file for restitution.
The 30-year sentence is almost 60% of the maximum 51 years in prison Waite had faced, as some of the sentences will run concurrently. He must also register as a sex offender for life, and will serve lifetime probation once released from prison.