Linden Man Sentenced to 26 Years for Raping Woman

Ronaldo Chapman, also known as ‘Packie,’ has been sentenced to 26 years in prison after being convicted of raping a woman at gunpoint.

The 25-year-old, formerly of Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, was sentenced by Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court last Thursday, following his conviction on two counts of rape by a 12-member jury.

The prosecution revealed during the trial that the incident occurred on March 14, 2023, after Chapman had a confrontation with the victim’s boyfriend.

Armed with a gun, Chapman struck the man and chased him through an alley, leaving the woman alone. He then sexually assaulted her at gunpoint.

Chapman was later apprehended by police at a hideout in Wisroc, Linden, after a shootout that resulted in the death of another man. At the time of the rape, Chapman was already wanted for other crimes.

In sentencing Chapman, Justice Barlow took into account the severity of the crime, as well as the psychological impact on the victim, among other things. She imposed a 26-year sentence for each count of rape, with the terms to be served concurrently.

Additionally, the judge ordered that Chapman undergo academic, vocational, and behaviour modification programmes while in prison to aid in his rehabilitation.

Prior to this conviction, Chapman had been charged with possession of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition and was previously sentenced to 18 months in absentia for narcotics trafficking.