Repeat offender gets 38 yrs

Sex offender gets 38 years to life in rape case

By Natalie Morales

Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

URBANA — A man who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend then led police on a high-speed chase through two counties in June was sentenced Tuesday to 38 years to life in prison.

Joseph W. Rollins, 37, of 4458 Woodville Pike, was also placed in a higher sex offender category because he was previously convicted of two other rapes.


He had pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated burglary, failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, kidnapping and two counts of rape for the June 29 incident.

Champaign County Common Pleas Judge Roger Wilson gave Rollins consecutive prison terms for the charges, categorized him as a Tier III sex offender and suspended his driver's license for life.

On the morning of June 29, Rollins went to the home of a former girlfriend. When she opened the door, he forced her inside at knife-point, raped her twice and assaulted her during a four-hour period, Champaign County Prosecutor Nick Selvaggio said.

Rollins fled in a vehicle and led deputies and Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase through Champaign and Clark counties.

Rollins previously was convicted of sexual battery in Darke County. He has since been indicted of another rape charge in Miami County, Selvaggio said.

Rapists find pleasure not in the sexual gratification from the act, but in the power and control they feel, he said.

"The day you raped me, punched my face and held me at knife-point, you said you had control over me — now I have

control over your fate," according to a statement the victim wrote, which Selvaggio read in court.

Rollins, whose attorney declined comment, apologized to the victim and officers and said he needed help to find out what was wrong with him.

The victim said Rollins' apology did not excuse his actions and that the memories of the attack make her fear daily activities, like answering her front door.

"Judge Wilson has put this community in a position where it is unlikely that it will be harmed by Joseph Rollins ever again," Selvaggio said.