ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 12, 1997 TAG: 9704140030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA THE ROANOKE TIMES
A former Radford University student was sentenced to prison Friday for beating a female student in a dorm stairwell and attempting to take her pants off.
A tearful Ralph William Bundick III apologized to his victim and her family Friday before a judge sentenced him for attacking a fellow Radford University dorm resident a year ago today.
Radford Circuit Judge Duane E. Mink sentenced Bundick to serve two years of a 10-year prison sentence for felony malicious wounding and one year in jail for misdemeanor attempted sexual battery. Mink also sentenced Bundick to nine years of active probation upon release.
The sentencing followed three hours of testimony and argument. Bundick, 21, was found guilty of both charges on Jan. 26 and allowed to remain free on bond until Friday. He was expelled from the university.
Radford Commonwealth's Attorney Randal Duncan argued that Bundick knew what he was doing the night of April 12, 1996. But the defense claimed Bundick attacked the student in a darkened stairwell of Moffett Hall during a blackout caused by alcohol.
The victim remains fearful of being alone and has had nightmares since the attack. She also was forced to change majors and failed to take required tests soon after the incident.
"She can't even walk the dog - without having fear - in the neighborhood she grew up in," Duncan said.
Evidence showed Bundick entered the dorm stairwell and followed the victim until he grabbed her and pulled her to the floor. Once there, Bundick repeatedly slammed the young woman's head into the marble steps and attempted to remove her pants until someone approached the stairwell to help the screaming woman.
The victim had six staples put in her head to close the wounds Bundick inflicted. She cannot forget the pain and white flashes she saw as her head was beaten into the steps, according to her statement to the court.
Bundick's attorney, Michael Barbour, argued that Bundick's behavior was extremely out of character for the Eagle Scout and former top swimmer and swim instructor from Hampton. Barbour put on several witnesses who testified that Bundick did not drink before he went to college, but developed a drinking problem after joining a fraternity where he "was pressured" to drink.
Bundick said he can not recall any part of the attack. He said he left a fraternity gathering after drinking many shots of liquor and went home because he was feeling sick. He remembers leaving the party and waking up in his dorm room to police officers' flashlights.
"There is nothing I can say to apologize to [the victim] and her family," Bundick said as he choked back tears. "I wish there was something I could do to make it up. This has affected my family just as much as yours."
Throughout the hearing, Bundick's girlfriend, friends and family wiped away tears, as did the victim and her family.
Barbour argued for a more lenient sentence for his client. Bundick has not had a drink since the attack, was expelled from school and almost immediately entered counseling after the incident, Barbour said. Bundick was in shock for weeks after the attack and felt shame, guilt and remorse, his counselor testified. Bundick had no prior criminal record.
Bundick had already suffered many different punishments, his attorney said.
"There is punishment in loss of reputation, conviction of a felony, impact on his family and in knowing a future career will not be," Barbour said.
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