Today, Judge Scott Arthur Evans sentenced Jose Figueroa, Jr., age 20, to serve up to 40 years of imprisonment in a state penitentiary for a 2017 rape.  Figueroa will not be eligible for parole until he serves at least 19 years of that sentence.  In March, a jury convicted Figueroa of rape, criminal conspiracy, robbery and related charges.  As he imposed the aggravated range sentence, Judge Evans indicated that, given the defendant’s “violent propensities and his anti-social propensities, Figueroa does not appear to be an individual who can be remedied by rehabilitation”.  Judge Evans observed that, during his 26 years on the bench and during his prior career as a criminal defense attorney, this case was the “most heinous” rape of an adult woman he had seen outside of cases that resulted in homicide.  Judge Evans noted that this rape was “more heinous than some of those cases that also resulted in a death”.   The judge cited the violent and degrading nature of the assault and the “conspiracy of horror” the defendant engaged in with his co-defendant, JayQuan Watson.  Watson entered an open guilty plea to all charges and is awaiting sentencing. 

During the trial, the 26-year old woman described picking up her friend Watson, who had another individual with him, on the evening of March 8, 2017.  While she did not know the second individual, she indicated she felt safe because he was a friend of Watson.  Later that night, Watson held a gun to the back of her head and forced her to pull the car over.  Each of the men proceeded to rape the woman at gunpoint.  The woman described being pistol-whipped before she able to escape from the car—running naked through the street before help arrived. 

Detective Jon Fustine of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police was the lead investigator on the case. Police received a tip that Figueroa was the second unknown assailant.  Ultimately, DNA testing linked Figueroa to the crime scene.  The victim explained that the defendant used a plastic grocery bag as a condom during the rape.  Police found the bag thrown under the victim’s abandoned car at the scene. 

During the sentencing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle indicated that the victim did not wish to be present at sentencing.  “The impact has been tremendous on her—her written statement implored the Court: “Please give those MONSTERS no chance for a normal life just as they did to me.’”  At the sentencing hearing, the CDDA Gettle cited the defendant’s extensive list of misconducts at the prison—“his violent conduct the night of the rape; his behavior in the courtroom; and his institutional behavior indicate he is an offender who should receive the maximum sentence.”

Figueroa still faces additional charges for aggravated harassment by a prisoner for his conduct in the courtroom after closing arguments in the case.  After the jury was removed from the courtroom, the defendant threatened the victim and spit on her boyfriend.  A fight broke out in the courtroom with family members also becoming involved.  Several deputy sheriffs were injured during the ensuing melee.  On this pending charge, the defendant remains presumed innocent.