The 20-year-old woman sighed in relief, then sobbed into the shoulder of her boyfriend.
She had just watched a jury convict David Pepe, a security guard, of making her his "sex slave" for three days in his Kensington home in December 1997. The panel deliberated for only 45 minutes.
After yesterday's verdict on charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, kidnapping and related offenses, Common Pleas Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes deferred sentencing until tomorrow.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Mallios said Pepe, 34, also known as David Wilson, was on parole for rape when he committed the offense.
Mallios said after paying the woman $150 for consensual sex following a date, he shoved a knife against her back when she tried to leave the house on Hilton Street near D. He then handcuffed and tied her with telephone cord before forcing her into a small plywood box in his basement, said Mallios.
"He wanted to kill her to keep her from reporting the rape and sending him back to prison," the prosecutor said.
But the woman was able to struggle out and escape her prison. "She knew if she didn't get out of that box, she was going to die," said Mallios.
He kept her there for up to 12 hours, or until he wanted to have sex with her again, she said.
Pepe admitting paying for sex with the woman.
