Akron man sentenced to 30 years to life in 2020 rape of college student
A 36-year-old Akron man with prior misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure will be in his 60s by the time he is eligible for parole after his conviction of the rape of a woman two years ago.
Antwane L. Foster will get credit for about two years he's already spent locked up after his July 2020 sexual assault of a woman in her Kling Street apartment, where she had been staying while attending college.
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Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce sentenced Foster to 30 years to life in prison Tuesday. A jury found him guilty on June 16 of rape, aggravated burglary and two counts of kidnapping, all first-degree felonies, and fourth-degree felony gross sexual imposition.
"He is the definition of a sexual predator," said Summit County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Dangelo. "This was a horrific scenario for anyone, not to mention a young college student."
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 40 years to life.
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Foster's attorney, Ed Smith, proposed a 10-year to life sentence, arguing the victim had not suffered any physical harm, while emphasizing he did not want to minimize the severity of the crime and noting he could not speak to the victim's psychological condition.
"She was not beaten; she required no medical attention," he said. "There was no physical harm done to her outside the sexual contact."
He said a lesser sentence, coupled with counseling in prison, would be an appropriate sentence.
Croce replied that victims of sexual assault, even if it is a non-violent assault, suffer psychological harm.
"It may not be physical outward signs of trauma, but the trauma is real," she said.
Following the sentencing hearing, Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh called Foster "a danger to the community."
"He deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Walsh said in a press release. “I hope today is part of the ongoing healing process for the survivor. Her inner strength is an inspiration.”
The court also determined Foster is a sexually violent predator and Croce classified him as a Tier 3 sexual offender, meaning he will have to register his address, work location, vehicle, phone and other information every 90 days after he is released from prison.
According to prosecutors, on July 25, 2020, Foster broke into a woman's home, held her down and performed an oral sex act on her. The woman testified at trial that she has post-traumatic stress syndrome, although her physical injuries were minimal.
Prosecutors said the fact that Foster and the woman did not know each other prior to the assault was an aggravating factor, along with Foster's prior criminal record.
Foster has eight prior misdemeanor convictions for indecent exposure.
Eric Marotta can be reached at 330-541-9433, or emarotta@gannett.com. Beacon Journal reporter Stephanie Warsmith contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron man, Antwane Foster, sentenced to 30 years to life for 2020 rape
