Rapist gets 70 years for assault on girl, 16

Deputy Troy Jackson guards convicted rapist Jeremy Quinn, Jr., during sentencing at Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Jeremy Quinn, Jr., shackled and showing no apparent emotion, was sentenced to 70 years in prison yesterday for the kidnap and rape last summer of a 16-year-old Sylvania Township girl.

Calling Quinn a sexual predator who must be removed from society, Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge James Jensen imposed consecutive and maximum sentences for six counts of rape and one count of kidnapping.

He said a sentence anything less than maximum and consecutive terms would demean the "hour of horror" that Quinn, 23, inflicted on the victim after she was taken at knifepoint from the driveway of her home as she was leaving for work.

"Your dishonest, arrogant, and cocky attitude is exceeded only by your predatory and violent, depraved behavior," Judge Jensen said during the sentencing hearing.

A jury convicted Quinn last month of kidnapping the teenager July 18 from her home near Bancroft Street and Centennial Road. She was taken in her car to a secluded wooded area just minutes from her home and raped repeatedly.

Quinn, who was released from prison four days earlier, was arrested at his home at 8052 Dorr St., Springfield Township, within an hour after the girl reported the crimes.

Michael Loisel, a county assistant prosecutor, said the sexual assaults and abduction were driven by the defendant's desire for control, and that punishment should be "just and swift."

A day after his conviction, Quinn, who is African-American, said in a jailhouse interview that he believed the jury wanted to find him guilty because the victim was white.

Before learning his sentence, Quinn repeated that belief, and vowed that the convictions would be overturned on appeal.

"This is years and years of slavery when a black man is accused of raping a white person they automatically get found guilty," Quinn said. "I just want to tell the court that I am no rapist."

Quinn was sentenced to juvenile prison when he was 13 for raping two women, serving seven years for attacking and assaulting them at knifepoint. He was released on his 21st birthday, but was sent to state prison on burglary and menacing convictions for crimes he committed within a year of being released.

Judge Jensen told the victim she showed strength and courage in testifying and was a role model for those who are sexually assaulted.

Quinn will not be eligible for parole, but Judge Jensen said that he would object to any hearing before the state parole authority to release him from prison early.

"It is this court's view, based on your behavior in this case and your criminal history, that you should serve every day of the 70 years," the judge said.

Outside the courtroom, the victim's grandfather spoke on behalf of the family.

"If anyone says sex doesn't cause damage, then they are badly mistaken. They are slowly putting their lives back together," he said.