PHOENIX, AZ (December 14, 2010) – Defendant Jacob Israel Randles (DOB 3/3/1976) has been found guilty on all twelve felony counts in connection with two violent incidents involving sexual assault and kidnapping. He faces a minimum prison sentence of 94 ½ years. Randles was previously convicted of sexual assault in 1997 for which he served a ten-year sentence in the Department of Corrections.

“This violent repeat offender will spend the rest of his life in prison where he belongs,” remarked Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, whose office successfully prosecuted the case. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute cases like this one to protect our community from dangerous criminals whose violent acts prove that they cannot be rehabilitated,” he added.

According to testimony presented at trial, Randles sexually assaulted a woman at his brother’s apartment on October 29^th, 2007. Days later, on November 4^th, Randles assaulted two women at gunpoint in the same apartment in two separate incidents. One of the victims managed to escape and call 911. SWAT officers surrounded the apartment and attempted to negotiate with Randles, who was holding the second victim hostage. After Randles refused to release the victim, SWAT forcibly entered the apartment and fired a single shot, injuring Randles in the head.

Randles was indicted on six class 2 counts of sexual assault, three class 2 counts of kidnapping, two class 3 counts of aggravated assault, and one felony count of misconduct involving weapons. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2011.

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