Pair Get Life in 2 Rapes of Same Woman

OAKLAND —  Two young men convicted of kidnaping, robbing and raping a woman and then doing it again to the same woman three days later were sentenced Friday to life in prison plus 14 years.

Orlando Harris, 21, and Marvin Bell, 22, were convicted in November in Alameda County Superior Court of nine charges, including other sexual crimes, against a woman they kidnaped at knifepoint after she left an automatic teller machine.

Under California law, however, Harris and Bell could become eligible for parole in seven years, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol Corrigan.

“More realistically, these guys are looking at about 20 years in prison, minimum,” Corrigan said.

Harris also is accused of more than 20 similar counts against three other female and three male victims attacked near automated teller machines during what Corrigan called a “reign of terror.”

Judge Benjamin Travis said he handed down the compounded sentences because he treated the incidents on Nov. 15 and Nov. 18, 1982, as two separate incidents. Travis also said he took into consideration a probation report that said Harris showed no remorse and was “rather smug” during the investigation.

Harris and Bell were convicted of kidnaping a 42-year-old woman at knifepoint at night after she left a automated teller machine. They brought her to her own empty apartment, stole her wallet and used her automated teller card to get more money. Then they sexually assaulted her for nearly an hour before leaving and cutting her phone line.

The woman testified that she stayed in the apartment--too frightened to leave--until the next day when she reported the attack to police. On Nov. 18, she was returning home alone after dinner with her family when the assailants appeared again and said: “Aren’t you glad to see us again?” according to the woman’s testimony.

The woman told the court that they again sexually assaulted her.

The jury was deadlocked on five other counts against Harris and Bell. Corrigan said she would dismiss those charges against Bell to spare the victim another trial. But she said she would re-try the other charges against Harris because he faces similar charges in other cases.