ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610250068
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
The state sentencing guidelines called for Barry Lynn Rucker to get 19 years in prison for abducting, raping and sodomizing a 10-year-old girl.
But Bedford County Circuit Judge William Sweeney told Rucker that "I'm both mad and afraid of you" and sentenced him to 40 years instead, county Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Krantz said.
Wednesday's sentencing of Rucker closed a case that Krantz said "is one of the most horrible things I've ever seen."
Krantz said Rucker, 38, concocted a scheme involving his own daughter so he could have his way with the girl he attacked.
According to earlier court testimony, this is what happened:
On Jan. 20, Rucker called the child's parents - who were his friends - and asked if the girl could spend the night with him and his daughter at their Bedford County home. Rucker's daughter was having a birthday party the next day at a pizza restaurant in Roanoke, he told the parents.
"That's what gets me," Krantz said. "This girl thought she was going to have the time of her life, but her dream turned into her worst nightmare."
The girl's parents agreed, and Rucker - who was driving on a suspended license and would have faced jail time if stopped by the police for any reason - drove to their home in Giles County and picked the child up about 11 p.m.
He drove her to an abandoned house in Stewartsville - a house that was boarded up and had no electricity.
The girl said he tried to kiss her after entering the house, but she stopped him.
The girl said she fell asleep a short time later and woke up with Rucker on top of her.
The next day, after he took her back to her home in Giles County, the girl told her parents about the ordeal. They rushed her to the local hospital, where a doctor found evidence of sexual penetration.
A Bedford County investigative team that specializes in crimes against children met the girl and her family at the hospital that day.
With the doctor and the girl's testimony, the evidence against Rucker was strong.
He pleaded no contest to the charges in July.
Krantz said the girl, now 11, and her parents didn't attend Wednesday's hearing, but he did speak with the girl's father over the phone.
"He said he was pleased with the sentence," Krantz said.
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