A Baltimore County judge saw the plea deal offered to Thomas Carroll, an admitted rapist. Forty years. A stiff penalty.
He heard from the tearful victim, who was only 16 when Carroll, now 38, raped her in 1993.
He heard from Carroll, who asked for forgiveness for a crime he had dodged for 14 years.
Then Circuit Judge Michael Finifter did something unusual Wednesday — he threw out the plea deal and sentenced Carroll to the maximum penalty: life in prison.
“You are a home-invasion gang rapist,” Finifter said to Carroll, who was tracked down by DNA evidence last year. “This crime was vicious. The conduct was heinous. It was the most evil act, the most violent act, and it was committed against the daughter of someone you were supposed to care for ? your girlfriend of four years.”
The victim, now 30, said she couldn?t believe that years later her rapist would be apprehended.
“For years, I never thought the day would come that I would find out who it was and I would see justice,” the woman said. “I don?t care how long ago it was, he should have to pay for what he did to me.”
Carroll was indicted Aug. 28 and accused of raping the Reisterstown teen on Feb. 20, 1993.
The victim was asleep in her bedroom when she was awakened by footsteps, police said.
Four assailants entered her room while her head was covered by an article of clothing ? one said “shut up or I?ll kill you” ? and two raped her, according to charging documents.
The victim said she believed the person who spoke to her and raped her sounded like her mother?s boyfriend, Carroll, though she was unable to see his face, police said.
More than a decade later, Baltimore County police traced a DNA sample from the rape to Carroll, they said.
Only one in 55 quadrillion people could have had the same DNA, according to prosecutors.
Carroll?s friends and family told the judge that he has reformed from his youthful days of crime and should be granted leniency.
“I ask you, ?Can you please forgive me?? ” Carroll said to the victim. “Not now, but one day?”
The woman remained silent.
