Okla. attackers who tattooed "RAPEST" on man's forehead sentenced to prison
(CBS/AP) OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Four people charged with kidnapping a man, tattooing "RAPEST" on his forehead and shocking his genitals with a stun gun before beating him unconscious with a baseball bat, were sentenced to prison Tuesday after admitting to the assault.
Richard Dellet, 31, and Zachary Provence, 21, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 on probation, while Kimberly Vergara, 25, and Lorena Hodges, 33, both got 5 years in prison and 5 years on probation after they were convicted of attacking 18-year-old Stetson Johnson on April 17, reports the Oklahoman.
All four pleaded guilty to maiming and kidnapping charges as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Three of the defendants also pleaded guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon while the fourth pleaded no contest to the charge.
The group reportedly claimed they were punishing Johnson after one of the women accused him of trying to have sex with her while she was sleeping.
Johnson, who relatives say has diminished mental capacity, denied the allegation, saying he is acquainted with all four suspects but has never tried to hurt any of them. Investigators have said there was no evidence to support the others' claim.
Prosecutors described the attack as a "brutal case of bullying," according to the Oklahoman.
"I think a mob mentality took over," First Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland said.
Johnson told authorities he was restrained with duct tape while "RAPEST," apparently a misspelling of "rapist," was tattooed across his forehead and a phrase that resembles "I like little boys" was tattooed on his chest.
Johnson said the attack began when he was thrown to the ground and kicked in the face "dozens of times" by two men while two women took turns using a stun gun on his genitals. He said the attackers yelled obscenities at him and later put him in a car and transported him to Eagle Lake in Del City, where he was beaten in the arms and head with a baseball bat and left unconscious.
The forehead tattoo has since been covered with another tattoo that looks like a bar code, and members of his family said he is working to have it removed.
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May 4, 2011 - Oklahoma City man's attackers tattooed "RAPEST" on his forehead, say police