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Editor's Note: Dale Smith contributed to this story.
Courtesy photo / VCBJ.
Donald Woulard, a 24-time convicted felon, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for kidnapping and sexual battery of a woman during a burglary of her home. Please click on the attachment to read further details of the crime.
DAYTONA BEACH -- A career criminal was sentenced today to life in prison with no hope for parole for rape and aggravated battery of a 26-year-old woman 13 months ago during a burglary.
A Volusia County jury deliberated just 45 minutes after a two-day trial in finding Donald Woulard Jr. guilty on felony charges of sexual battery, kidnapping and burglary and aggravated assault.
Already with 24 felonies on his record, Woulard chose to represent himself at his own trial. But prosecutors poked holes in his defense by showing a pattern of choices he made during the assault, including holding the victim against her will for two hours before raping her.
The 53-year-old Woulard admitted to going to the woman's home Dec. 17, with the intent of robbing her and holding her against her will, but denied the rape charge. However, DNA evidence linked Woulard to the crime.
Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson immediately proceeded to a sentencing hearing at the Justice Center after the jury’s verdict. Assistant State Attorney Tiffany Adleman, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant State Attorney Chris Miller, argued at the sentencing hearing that based on Woulard’s criminal history and the "egregiousness of the offense," that Woulard should be given the maximum sentence of life in prison.
The jury did find Woulard not guilty of the charge of grand theft and on the charge of home invasion found him guilty of the lesser included offense of burglary.