Rape suspect rejects deal
Now he faces life if convicted in brutal attack on teenage girl at his home
Jayvon Woolfork, the last of five defendants accused of brutally attacking a 16-year-old girl in his Holly- wood home in 2013, rejected a plea deal Wednesday that would have sent him to prison for 10 years.
Woolfork, 20, faces life in prison if convicted of kidnapping and armed sexual battery charges.
Part of the attack on the victim was captured on cellphone videos that show her getting punched, kicked and dragged in and out of Woolfork’s home.
Woolfork is the only defendant accused of having sexual intercourse with the victim.
The four other defeants took plea deals and were sentenced as youthful offenders.
Earlier this month, he rejected a plea deal offering him a 15-year prison term followed by five years of probation. The offer on the table
Wednesday was more generous — 10 years in prison with five years of probation.
Prosecutor Maria Schneider said she was trying to spare the victim from having to testify in pre-trial interviews under oath with lawyers on both sides.
Woolfork apologized to Broward Circuit Judge Lisa Porter for his outburst in court on June 4, during which he demanded evidence of his guilt and said it would be “stupid” to accept a plea deal because he is innocent.
A trial date was tentatively set for July 20, and Woolfork surprised lawyers by saying he might not want a jury to decide the case.
“He wants a bench trial,” said defense lawyer Barry Butin. “That’s against my advice.”
At a bench trial, a judge acts as the jury. It is highly unusual in serious criminal cases, Porter told Woolfork.
Woolfork responded that he wanted to think about it.
The victim was in court Wednesday but did not speak at the hearing.
Dwight Henry, 18; Lanel Singleton, 19; Patricia Montes, 17; and Erica Avery, 17, were each sentenced to four years in prison and two years of probation for their roles in the Nov. 1, 2013, incident.
At least two are expected to testify against-Woolfork, prosecutors said.