Victim recounts sexual abuse at Cedar Rapids man's sentencing

A woman said Friday she still lives with the memories of being threatened with a knife and sexually assaulted in August 2008, as her boyfriend was tied up and forced to watch.

The woman, 22, at the time of the crime, made a brief but emotional victim's impact statement today during the sentencing of her assaulter, Charles Horne, 34, of Cedar Rapids.

“I don't consider myself a victim, but a survivor of Charles Horne,” she said, tearing up.

She looked up at the judge and tried to say something but she couldn't. Her face seemed to go pale, she looked down and then quickly asked the judge to give Horne the maximum sentence.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Marsha Beckelman did just that. She sentenced Horne to 55 years in prison, running the terms consecutively, for third-degree sexual abuse, first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree robbery.

Horne will also be on lifetime parole – a special sentence for sexual abuse cases -- and will be required to pay $651 in victim restitution.

“I'm deeply sorry for what I've done,” Horne told the judge before she pronounced the sentence. "I promise it won't happen again. Deeply sorry.”

Horne met the woman and her boyfriend at a party outside of the boyfriend's apartment Aug. 29, 2008 and was in a group that was invited inside the boyfriend's apartment after the other party broke up.

Horne then came back to the apartment some time later and broke in while the victims were sleeping, Interim Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said. Horne tied up the boyfriend with an electrical cord while threatening both of them with a knife.

Horne then raped the woman in front of her boyfriend and stole cash and their cell phones before he left, Vander Sanden said. Both  victims had marks from a knife on their necks.

Horne pleaded guilty to the charges in April. He was originally charged with second-degree sexual abuse, first-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree robbery.

Vander Sanden said he agreed to the plea agreement because he could argue for consecutive sentences.

Vander Sanden also pointed out an interesting note about the case -- Horne was acquitted by a jury for third-degree sexual abuse about three months before this incident in 2008. The jury didn't believe the alleged victim in that case, he said.