Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 1, 1995 TAG: 9508010072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
But Salem Circuit Judge Roy Willett withheld finding Jake Snow Moeller, 22, guilty of the charge.
Willet said there was ample proof of Moeller's guilt, but agreed to take the case under advisement pending the outcome of a pre-sentence report and victim impact statements.
The charge against Moeller resulted from a Feb. 9 visit to the woman's home, said Salem Commonwealth's Attorney Fred King.
Moeller wanted to have sex with the woman, with whom he had a previous relationship, King said. But she did not.
Reading from a summary of the evidence, King detailed a bruising scuffle between Moeller and the woman. The struggle culminated with Moeller's raping the woman in the hallway that led to her bedroom.
The woman reported the attack to Salem police the next day, but was reluctant to press charges, King said.
However, she did agree to record phone conversations between herself and Moeller, King said.
In one of several transcribed conversations, she said, "You know that you raped me. Do you feel guilty at all?"
Moeller responded, "I know it's not cool."
In the same conversation she asked him why he had raped her. He replied, "I don't know. I'm sorry."
Initially the woman had pursued a misdemeanor sexual battery charge, but later that charge was dropped and upgraded to a rape charge.
Moeller will be sentenced Sept. 15. He could receive up to life in prison for the crime.
by CNB