BY PORTSIA SMITH
The maintenance man of a Caroline County campground was sentenced Thursday to two years behind bars for going into a woman's home and raping her.
In Caroline Circuit Court, Michael "Steve" Gilley, 47, of Rappahannock Academy entered an Alford plea to rape by force.
An Alford plea means the defendant does not acknowledge guilt, but acknowledges that the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction.
Gilley was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with all but two years suspended, and must register as a sex offender.
The 52-year-old victim did not appear in court Thursday, but had testified at earlier hearings that Gilley came to her door at the Four Winds campground in Woodford on Nov. 8, entered her trailer and raped her.
"She was quite bruised and injured by the event," said Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Diane Abato, who prosecuted the case.
Abato said the victim was in such shock that she didn't report the rape for two days. Gilley was arrested on Nov. 10, the day after his birthday.
After his arrest, he initially denied knowing the woman or being in her home.
Abato said that Gilley's story changed several times, and that he later claimed the woman consented to sex.
The case had been set for a jury trial, but Abato said Gilley didn't want to take a chance at getting a longer sentence, and the victim did not want to testify or be in the same room with him.
Judge Gordon Willis ordered Gilley not to have any contact with the victim.
Willis also placed Gilley on supervised probation and ordered him to undergo a substance-abuse evaluation.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Email: psmith@fredericksburg.com