When Lorenzo Finsley entered a Summit County courtroom Tuesday afternoon, the 26-year-old Akron woman he admitted to raping in June shook her head sadly.
“He took something I never gave to him,” she said during Finsley’s sentencing in Summit County Common Pleas Court.
Finsley, 30, of Akron, was scheduled to go on trial Tuesday morning in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tom Teodosio’s courtroom. Under an agreement with prosecutors, he instead pleaded guilty to rape, a first-degree felony, and abduction, a third-degree felony. Prosecutors dropped the remaining charges against him.
Teodosio sentenced Finsley to six years in prison, four years for the rape and two for the abduction. This was the amount of time recommended by prosecutors.
Finsley faced up to 14 years in prison. He will be a Tier 3 registered sex offender, required to verify his address every 90 days for the rest of his life with the sheriff’s office.
Police say Finsley broke into the woman’s Akron home on June 7 and assaulted her while her child was in the house. He was arrested July 12 by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at a home on Simmons Court in Akron.
Finsley and the woman knew each other and had been at a party prior to the assault, according to prosecutors.
John Greven, Finsley’s attorney, said he told his client there were medical records that would have helped his case and other evidence that would have hurt his chances at trial. Asked if he wanted to speak during his sentencing, Finsley simply said, “No.” He showed no reaction during his plea or sentencing.
Finsley was originally also charged with felonious assault, aggravated menacing, kidnapping, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition and aggravated burglary.
Finsley has numerous previous convictions, including escape, aggravated assault, robbery, receiving stolen property and possession of cocaine.
Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Brian Stano said the victim and officers who investigated the case signed off on the plea agreement.
“We believe this to be an adequate resolution to this case,” he said. The victim, however, mentioned during her remarks at the sentencing that she would have liked to have seen Finsley get more time. She said she had suicidal thoughts after the rape and suffered financially because she missed work.
“I’m thankful he is not on the streets,” said the woman, who remained calm and didn’t cry. “He can’t do this to someone else.”
The Beacon Journal typically doesn’t name victims of sexual crimes.
Her father also spoke briefly, saying he couldn’t understand how a man could do this.
“This helps a little bit,” he said of the prison time. “To me, the time is never enough. I’m the father.”
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com or on Twitter: @swarsmithabj .