Trish Mehaffey, CR Gazette –
A 21-year-old man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Wednesday for forcing his way into an elderly woman’s home and sexually assaulting her last year.
Darryl Tyson, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty last month to first-degree burglary, second-degree robbery, third-degree sexual abuse and second-degree theft. Tyson broke into the 81-year-old’s home on Oakland Road NE, May 5, 2011 and sexually assaulted her before stealing her car to escape from the house.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Denver Dillard sentenced him to consecutive sentences on the all four charges in accordance with the plea agreement. Dillard told Tyson he was “lucky” to receive the plea deal.
“There was some major concessions, but there is a long sentence,” Dillard said.
Tyson declined to speak during the hearing.
Assistant Linn County Attorney Jason Besler said this was the best outcome for the victim because she didn’t have to go through the trauma of testifying at a trial. She and her family were satisfied with the plea agreement, he said.
Investigators eventually linked Tyson to the crime by matching DNA at the scene to his known profile in a national data system, according to court records. Tyson left the car in Hiawatha but fled to Illinois and was arrested in Peoria, Ill., July 10, 2011.
Tyson also will have to serve a special sentence of lifetime parole after serving his prison term and be on the sex offender registry for life because of the sexual assault conviction.
