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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Ronald W. Kaefer of Jemison was found guilty of rape first degree in criminal court on Sept. 21 at the end of a two-day trial.

“This was a very important case to us, and we were glad that the jury arrived at the truth,” 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney C. J. Robinson said.

The initial charges in the case stem from a Feb. 18, 2021 incident. Kaefer had been arrested on March 5, 2021.

Robinson said the victim was a 36-year-old with Down’s Syndrome, and “she did not have the mental capacity to consent to an act like that.”

The victim later told a family friend what had happened to her.

During the trial, the defendant moved for judgement of acquittal at the end of the state’s evidence and at the close of all evidence, according to court documents.

The motion was denied both times.

Sentencing in the trial has been set for Nov. 3. Kaefer’s conviction carries a possible sentence of 10-99 years.

Robinson said “we are clearly going to be asking for a long prison sentence” to get justice for the victim and to deter anyone who would sexually assault someone who is intellectually disabled.