Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III announced that 20 year old Rudell Jemes of 171 Berkshire Street, Buffalo, was convicted as charged of Rape in the First Degree, after a week-long jury trial before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case. This is the highest charge Jemes faced at trial.

On March 28, 2012 Jemes forcibly raped a 15 year old juvenile in the basement of his residence after she had been locked inside that basement. During the attack, Jemes pinned the victim up against a clothes dryer and forced his penis into her vagina while she was screaming for Jemes to stop. Jemes then grabbed the victim by the hair, pulled her up the stairs, hit her in the face and threw her out the front door.

The victim, who suffered multiple lacerations to her vaginal area, was immediately transported to Women and Children’s Hospital for a rape kit.  Although the genetic evidence which was collected from the kit matched Jemes’ DNA profile, Jemes laughed when questioned by detectives and denied having sexual contact with the victim on March 28, 2012.

At trial, defense attorney Paul Dell argued that the victim was unworthy of belief because she was a runaway who had violated the rules of a group home.

Special Credit to the CPS Laboratory and to  Det. James Kaska and Det. Kim Tomassi of the Buffalo Sex Offense Squad.

The case was successfully prosecuted by ADA Lynette Reda and ADA Kristi Ahlstrom, both of whom are assigned to DA Sedita’s Special Victims Bureau. DA Sedita commended their efforts and the investigation conducted by Buffalo Police Department Sex Offense Squad Detectives James Kaska and Kim Tomassi, as well as the scientists at the Central Police Services Forensic Laboratory, stating: “Because of their dedication and professionalism, a child rapist has been brought to justice.”

Jemes faces up to 25 years in state prison when sentenced by Judge Case on August 9, 2013 at 9:30 AM.