Arkansan found guilty in rape, beating of 69-year-old woman gets 4 life sentences

NWA Democrat-Gazette/TRACY M. NEAL Charles Rickman, 31, is taken from Benton County court Tuesday after the first day of his jury trial ends in Bentonville. Rickman is accused of kidnapping and raping a 69-year-old woman.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/TRACY M. NEAL Charles Rickman, 31, is taken from Benton County court Tuesday after the first day of his jury trial ends in Bentonville. Rickman is accused of kidnapping and raping a 69-year-old woman.

BENTONVILLE — A jury of six men and six women deliberated for an hour Thursday morning before finding an Arkansas man guilty of beating and raping a 69-year-old woman.

The jury found 31-year-old Charles Allen Rickman, 31, of Gentry guilty of aggravated residential burglary, kidnapping, two counts of rape and battery. He stood with his attorneys as Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren read the jury's verdicts.

The victim sat on a pew across the courtroom from Rickman. The injuries from the attack resulted in the woman losing portions of both her arms and legs.

The jury recommended later Thursday that Rickman receive four life sentences plus 20 years in prison.

Karren ordered the sentences to be served consecutively.

During the trial, jurors heard that Rickman used the ruse of having car trouble to get the woman to open her door at 1:30 a.m. Oct. 3, 2017. She handed him her cellphone through a slightly opened door, and Rickman then forced his way into her house as he was was returning the phone.

The woman testified during the trial and described her brutal attack to jurors. She said Rickman blind-folded her, tied up her hands and feet, and then proceeded to rape and beat her for more than five hours.

Her arms and legs had to be amputated due to blood loss that resulted in her skin dying.

The jurors also watched video of Rickman admitting to detectives that he attacked and raped the woman in her home.

Rickman testified at the trial and admitted to raping her but claimed he was under the influence of methamphetamine and intoxicated from drinking beer.

Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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