Quote :

"CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (AP) -- A man who sexually assaulted a fellow University of Virginia student in 1984 and then apologized to her two decades later as part of the 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program pleaded guilty to the crime Tuesday. "This began as an effort to make amends," William Beebe said in a statement outside of court. "Twenty-two years ago I harmed another person and I have tried to set that right." Beebe, 41, of Las Vegas, Nevada, entered his plea in Charlottesville Circuit Court to one count of aggravated sexual battery for assaulting Liz Seccuro during a party at a fraternity house. Under AA's ninth step, alcoholics are advised to make amends to those they've harmed. Last year, Beebe -- a member of AA -- decided to write Seccuro a letter to make amends for assaulting her. Seccuro, 39 and living in Greenwich, Connecticut, said when Beebe's letter arrived in September 2005, it reopened old wounds. She eventually replied to his letter and the two entered into a two-month e-mail correspondence. In their e-mails, which Seccuro provided to The Associated Press, Beebe told Seccuro he had long been haunted by what he had done, and wanted to atone for having harmed her. But Seccuro became upset when his account did not match with her memory of the assault, which she describes as violent and savage. She was 17 years old and still a virgin when Beebe attacked her, she said. In December, Seccuro called Charlottesville police to report what had happened. As there is no statute of limitations on felonies in Virginia, Beebe was arrested in Las Vegas and extradited to Virginia. Beebe had been scheduled to go on trial November 27 on charges of rape and object sexual penetration. He could have faced life in prison if convicted of those charges. Prosecutor Claude Worrell told the court that one of the main reasons his office agreed to a plea is because the investigation revealed that more than one person may have assaulted Seccuro. Under the agreement, the state recommended that Beebe serve two years in prison. Formal sentencing is set for March 15. Beebe will remain free on bond until then. Outside of court Tuesday, Seccuro said tearfully, "I think that the idea of closure for any victim of a sexual assault is not reality. There is never closure. Seccuro went public with her name and story, hoping to inspire other sexual assault survivors to seek help. She launched a donor fund called STARS -- Sisters Together Assisting Rape Survivors -- to raise money for programs helping rape victims and their families."

Don't get me wrong, this guy is a guilty rapist. However, when this woman received his apology she then started a 2 month long email correspondence. Then, when she was done fucking with him over the internets, turned him over to the cops. 2 years is about right.

[Edited on November 14, 2006 at 12:40 PM. Reason : .]

11/14/2006 12:38:47 PM

Quote :

"As there is no statute of limitations on felonies in Virginia"

holy christ. really?

11/14/2006 12:59:06 PM

Well, it is a Commonwealth.

11/14/2006 1:00:29 PM

i got a ticket in virginia one time

i hate that state

11/14/2006 3:41:10 PM

wow... all of that really just sucks...

i give the idiot credit for at least owning up to it... makes me wonder why the woman never turned him in herself 20 years before or why she waited and talked for 2 months after he admitted it... a little weird to me.

11/14/2006 4:59:12 PM

Quote :

"But Seccuro became upset when his account did not match with her memory of the assault, which she describes as violent and savage."

Quote :

"the investigation revealed that more than one person may have assaulted Seccuro."

"Hey, sorry for raping you 20 years ago."
"You bastard. That was horrible!"
"Really? I don't remember it being that bad."
"Hmm, maybe I'm thinking about someone else..."

11/14/2006 5:29:52 PM

shivan, that second quote was to imply that she may have been assaulted by someone else as well, not that Beebe assaulted someone else

11/14/2006 6:01:39 PM

knock knock
who's there
your rapist lol

11/14/2006 6:20:11 PM

^^ That's what he's saying.

11/14/2006 6:25:37 PM

you're right. i can't edit but oh well. apologies to shivan, i was wrong.

11/14/2006 7:18:03 PM

What's the point of a 2-year jail sentence for someone that has clearly already sought rehabilitation independantly and is on a path to becoming a productive member of society?

11/14/2006 10:03:01 PM

this is certainly an odd case, but he did rape someone.

11/14/2006 10:10:34 PM

^^A fair point, but you can't just forgive sexual assaults because the guy's sorry and it happened a long time ago (not in Virginia anyways, apparently.)

11/14/2006 10:41:25 PM

Quote :

"So.. are we cool?"

11/14/2006 10:44:24 PM

This chick could have been decent looking back in the day

11/15/2006 1:04:10 AM

^ i bet you're right

but seriously, he probably did mess her up for life given that she was a virgin. i bet it was a long time before she let anyone put the you know what in the you know where again.

11/15/2006 11:44:45 AM

Reminds me of:

11/15/2006 5:37:59 PM

Quote :

"What's the point of a 2-year jail sentence for someone that has clearly already sought rehabilitation independantly and is on a path to becoming a productive member of society? "

I generally defend this kind of thing, because he's a rapist and I feel that imprisonment can (and should) also be about revenge rather than simply rehabilitation. So I'd generally be ok with this guy getting sentenced. Unfortunately, the woman is being a heinous bitch about the damn thing. She apparantly only got upset after he said "I didn't smack you around that bad"

If she was still suffering from the damage enough to want him to spend time in jail, she should have contacted authorities immediately.

11/15/2006 5:41:24 PM

guys its ok, he was hot as fuck

OFFICIAL CHAT TRANSCRIPTS

Quote :

" recoveringrapist24 signed on traumatized99 signed on recoveringrapist24: hi traumatized99: asl? recoveringrapist24: 41, by force, step 9 traumatized99: kewl recoveringrapist24: so whats up? traumatized99: nothing much thinking about getting raped 23 years ago recoveringrapist24: my bad lol traumatized99: wtf traumatized99 signed off"

11/15/2006 7:15:30 PM

^ I LOLed

11/15/2006 7:24:31 PM

^me as well.

11/15/2006 8:14:00 PM

It's like the movie "tape"...only its the other way around

11/15/2006 8:42:41 PM