LAWRENCEBURG, IN — A Dearborn County man has been convicted of one count of Rape.
30-year-old Eric Streithorst of Bright was convicted on the Level 3 felony count following a four-day trial in Dearborn Superior Court II.
Streithorst was accused of forcing sex acts on a 17-year-old female while she was unaware and unable to consent due to illness and alcohol use.
Streithorst had maintained that nothing occurred between him and the victim.
However, the State presented testimony from the victim and other witnesses, serological evidence, and DNA evidence which strongly tied Streithorst to the rape.
Some witnesses also testified that Streithorst provided the teenage girl with shots of alcohol prior to the rape.
“The jury had a difficult case and I am pleased with the outcome of this trial,” said Dearborn County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens. “The Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office did a great job gathering the evidence necessary to secure this conviction. Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens all too often. Perhaps this conviction will provide some closure for the victim and will help deter others who may be inclined to do the same thing.”
The six-man, six-woman jury deliberated for four hours before reaching a verdict.
Following conviction, Dearborn Superior Court II Judge Sally McLaughlin ordered Streithorst to be jailed immediately in the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 4.
Deddens said he will be housed in the county jail to and through sentencing.
Streithorst faces three to 16 years behind bars, with an advisory sentence of nine years and a maximum $10,000 fine.
