Photo for Headline Surfer / Michael Chapman, shown above from his jail mug, was sentenced to 15 years for rape and burglary with a battery on Thursday, Jan 30, 2020.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DELAND, Fla. – A 25-year-old Deltona man, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison by Circuit Judge James R. Clayton for raping a young woman in her bedroom after getting in through an unlocked window nearly two years ago.
Chapman was subsequently designated designated as a sexual offender by the judge after handing down the sentence at the Voulusia County Courthouse, which requires him to register as such when relesed from prison.
Here is a synopsis of the case: On March 16, 2018, Chapman broke into the then-19-year-old victim’s bedroom through a window while she was sleeping. After breaking in the house, Chapman threw her onto the bedroom floor. He then tore off her clothes and raped her, during which he choked her and gave her a bloody lip; warning her not to scream or he would shoot whoever came through the door.
She screamed anyway and Chapman put his clothes back on. When someone knocked on the bedroom door to check on her, Chapman opened the door and abruptly took off from the house. Chapman was arrested later that day at his residence. He claimed the sex was consensual.
Here is a synopsis of the case: On March 16, 2018, Chapman broke into the then-19-year-old victim’s bedroom through a window while she was sleeping. After breaking in the house, Chapman threw her on the bedroom floor. He then tore off her clothes and raped her, during which he choked her aand gave her a bloody lip; warning her not to scream or he would shoot whoever came through the door.
She screamed anyway and Chapman put his clothes back on. When someone knocked on the bedroom door to check on her, Chapman opened the door and abruptly took off from the house. Chapman was arrested later that day. He claimed the sex was consensual.
The victim told deputies that Chapman had been violent toward her in the past and they had broken up several days before the attack after a two-month relationship. The teen said she was awakened at 1 a.m. March 16, 2018, by the sound of Chapman entering through a bedroom window, leading to the violent attack.
A jury on Oct. 24 found Michael Alexander Chapman, 25, guilty of burglary with a battery, punishable by up to life in prison, but at his sentencing the judge gave him 15 years behind bars. Because he'll only have to serve 85 percent of the sentence behind bars, plus 599 days subtracted for sitting in jail after his arrest, Chapman coud be released from prisson in 11 years.
Assistant State Attorney Megan Upchurch prosecuted the case. Chaapman was represented by defense counsel Allison Thero.