Conner plead to avoid life sentence - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Conner plead to avoid life sentence

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By Jim Wallace - bio | email

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By Jim Wallace - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) –  An accused serial rapist is sentenced to 25 years in prison, after working out a plea deal with prosecutors just before his trial began.

Phillip Conner pleaded guilty to six counts of aggravated assault with intent to rape and impersonating an officer, though he maintained his innocence.

Three women who were ready to testify that Conner sexually assaulted them cried in the courtroom as Conner was sentenced.

Prosecutors say Conner posed as a narcotics officer and raped seven prostitutes or street women at gun or knife point.

Bill Murray, Conner's attorney, said he plead guilty to make sure he doesn't spend the rest of his life behind bars, but still denies the charges. "He's entering that plea, that means while he maintains his innocence as to all 50 charges, he's entering the plea as being in his best interest...  To avoid the dire consequences."

"Everybody is deserving of protection by the law. And we're glad these victims did come forward.We know that there were others. We just, they would never come in," said Dougherty D.A. Greg Edwards.

Conner was also sentenced to 25-years probation after his release from prison and banished from Dougherty County for life.


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