Man takes rape plea to save student's family 'more grief'

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — John Roddey Jr.,25, pleaded guilty Thursday to kidnapping and raping a Winthrop student last fall.

Roddey is charged with criminal sexual conduct first degree, and kidnapping. The attack happened at 2 a.m. Oct. 31, 2014.

• Police: Student sexually assaulted at Winthrop University

The victim was walking back to her dorm, Margaret Nance Hall, when a man approached her from behind; and put what she thought was a gun; to her body.

Assistant solicitor Erin Joyner described in court what happened.

"He removed an object from his clothing that she believed to be a gun. He grabbed her arm; and forced her into a dark corner," Joyner said. She described in detail the attack, which happened only feet from the dorm.

It was a warm night, and several students had their dorm windows open; and heard the commotion. Several reported hearing screaming or loud talking. Some  students saw both the suspect and victim, Joyner said.

"She did report hearing a scream, looked out the window, saw a black male in all black, pointing what appeared to be a gun at a white female," she said.

Roddey was caught walking away from the scene, as police were there within two minutes.

He told Winthrop police that he had left a bar called “The Money” across Cherry Road and was walking back to his car, which was parked on campus.

Later, fingernail scrapings and hand swipes led to a DNA match in the case. A BB gun was also found, but police could not link the weapon to Roddey.

The incident marked the second stranger rape on Winthrop's campus in a decade.

On Thursday, Roddey's lawyer, Phil Smith, told the court that Roddey wanted to go ahead and plead guilty now before Christmas; so the victim and her family wouldn't suffer as much over the holidays.

The victim was also in court Thursday, but chose not to speak until sentencing.

Roddey, who has no prior criminal record, will be sentenced Jan. 11.

He could face up to 60 years in prison, but prosecutors have recommended a cap of 20 years. However, the judge doesn't have to go along with that recommendation.

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