People v. Witherspoon

Joseph L. Witherspoon (defendant) was charged with rape, deviate sexual assault and three counts of aggravated kidnapping. The State dismissed the deviate sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping with intent to commit deviate sexual assault charges and proceeded to trial on the remaining counts. After a bench trial, defendant was found guilty of rape and aggravated kidnapping with intent to commit rape; he was found not guilty of aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to a term of 4 to 6 years on the two counts on which he was found guilty, with the…