By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Johnnie James Jackson III

WARSAW — A Winona Lake man will serve seven years in prison after raping a person.

Johnnie James Jackson III, 20, 1202 Wooster Road Lot 88, Winona Lake, was charged with rape, a level 3 felony. Two additional criminal charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Jackson was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Monday, Dec. 20.

On July 30, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a rape report. The individual who made the report told the officer they met up with Jackson earlier in the day.

According to court documents, the person said a man, later identified as Jackson, expressed a romantic interest. However, the person told Jackson they were in a relationship with someone else. During the meeting, Jackson forced the person to have sexual intercourse with him. The person also said Jackson threw them to the ground and hit their head several times while strangling them with an item of clothing.

During the attack, the person told Jackson to stop. The officer noticed the person had numerous abrasions all over their body.

Jackson also called into dispatch and said he needed to speak to law enforcement. Initially, Jackson claimed he was attacked by two people who hit him in the head and that he blacked out. Jackson was medically cleared at a local hospital, where medical personnel said he had no signs of being hit in the head.

In an interview with law enforcement, Jackson admitted to forcibly having intercourse with the person against their will. Jackson said he heard the individual say “no” but that he lost control and something in his head told him to do it.

During court proceedings, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joe Sobek said the incident was Jackson’s first adult offense. Jackson’s plea agreement stated his initial executed sentence would not exceed eight years. Sobek requested the court give Jackson the full eight-year sentence.

Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon said Jackson was immediately remorseful following his actions. He requested the court consider a four to five-year sentence for mitigating factors.

No victim impact statements were given in court.

“I’m deeply apologetic and I’m sorry,” said Jackson. “I can’t think about anything other than what I did.”

Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath noted Jackson’s prior juvenile history and the harm suffered to the victim as aggravators. Jackson’s remorse, as well as his having a child, were listed as mitigators.

For rape, Judge McGrath sentenced Jackson to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Seven years will be executed and three years were suspended on probation. Jackson also has 143 days of jail time credit in the case.

A no-contact order between Jackson and the victim remains in effect. Jackson must also register as a sex offender.