Florida man convicted of raping woman in Strip hotel
A Florida man was convicted this week of raping a woman inside a Strip hotel earlier this year.
After a more than week-long trial, a Clark County jury found Donovan Joseph, 36, guilty Wednesday on six charges: three counts of sexual assault, along with one count each of coercion, battery with the intent to commit sexual assault and open or gross lewdness in connection with the rape of a 21-year-old Australian woman at the Tropicana.
Prosecutors said Joseph was visiting Las Vegas for a convention when he and a group of friends met up with another group from Australia.
The victim became intoxicated the night of Jan. 22, and Joseph told the others he would take care of her, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Megan Thomson. Joseph took her to his hotel room, where he sexually assaulted her before she ran out of the room naked and contacted a security guard, Thomson said. Joseph was arrested the next morning.
Joseph is slated to be sentenced Oct. 15.
Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.
