But first... a former security guard is in prison tonight, convicted of raping and beating a woman in the compound he was guarding. This afternoon a jury of 5 women and four men found 44 year old Kent Francis guilty of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and threat of death. The victim was raped when she lived at an apartment on the Western Highway where Francis worked as a security guard.
She testified that on the night that it happened, Francis saw her talking to a taxi driver and then told her he wanted back some items he had loaned her. She said he put a gun to her head, took away her room key, opened the door and ordered her inside. Francis, firearm in hand, then entered as a trespasser and raped her. After he raped her he left, taking a DVD player. When she tried to go to the police station to make a report, she says he turned her back by putting a gun to her side.
In his testimony Francis admitted that he did go to her room on the night, but only to recover a DVD player he'd loaned her. He said he did not stay for long, and he went back to his security booth to meet his girlfriend who was waiting for him there. The girlfriend, Shirlene Anderson backed up his alibi with her own testimony.
The jury didn't buy his or her story and deliberated for three hours before declaring him guilty.
Justice Troadio Gonzalez will sentence him on Monday, giving his attorney Dean Lindo time to prepare a mitigation plea. The case was prosecuted by Audrey Matura.
