YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A man who kidnapped and raped a Winthrop University student outside her dormitory will spend 20 years in prison.
John Roddey Jr. apologized through tears to the woman he raped on campus in October of 2014.
"I'm truly, truly sorry and I ask forgiveness," Roddey said.
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However, it was what his victim said to him that surprised many in the York County courtroom.
She stood at the podium, only feet from the man who attacked her and talked about how she wasn't bitter or even angry about it.
"Despite what he chose to do, my perpetrator is a human being," she said. "He made a terrible mistake."
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Roddey then cried.
He had no criminal record before the attack and was drunk that night when he waited for the student, grabbed her and pulled her behind a wall outside her dorm.
Assistant Solicitor Erin Joyner described the case.
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"She was physically violated. She was humiliated and in those moments of the kidnapping, that sexual assault, she had no idea how this was going to end," Joyner said.
As the judge sentenced Roddey, the victim said it was hard for her to watch anyone lose his freedom for so long.
"Two people who were never meant to know each other met because one of them made a horrendous mistake in choosing to harm and abuse the other, "she said.
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Fortunately, dorm windows were open that night and students heard the victim scream. They also were able to describe Roddey. Police were on scene in minutes and caught Roddey walking away.
In court Monday, his father broke down telling the judge this was not like his son to do this and he doesn't understand it.
"I don't have answers and I need answers," he said.
Judge John C. Hayes said a college campus must be a safe place. He handed down the maximum sentence under the 20-year cap that was agreed to by lawyers on both sides of the case.
Roddey will have to register as a sex offender after he is released.
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