Arlington Rape Defendant Sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole Under Melissa’s Law
WOBURN – Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that EssieBillingslea, 46, of Boston, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on charges of aggravated rape, armed assault in a dwelling, and home invasion. A jury found the defendant guilty of the charges on Friday, January 15, 2016. Yesterday, Judge Thomas Billings found the defendant to be a habitual offender under “Melissa's Law,” the section of the 2012 Crime Bill that increased penalties for repeat violent offenders. The law requires that serious violent offenders serve the maximum penalty for their third conviction of a violent crime, without the possibility of parole.
“The defendant in this case is a violent offender who has displayed a consistent pattern of dangerous and frightening behavior,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Now that he has been found to be a habitual offender, today’s sentencing ensures that the defendant will serve the entirety of his sentence for the brutal rape he was convicted of and that he will be unable to reoffend."
Judge Billings also sentenced the defendant to 10 years in state prison on the charge of kidnapping and 20 years in state prison on the charge of assault with intent to rape, the maximum terms for each offense. The defendant received 25 years probation on the charge of breaking and entering in the daytime and assault with a dangerous weapon and was ordered to have no contact with victims or witnesses and is not permitted to profit from his crime.
On June 1, at approximately 8:13 p.m., Arlington Police received a request from a concerned friend of the victim for a well-being check. When authorities arrived at the residence, they encountered two individuals. One, a male, later identified as the defendant, was observed by officers before he fled the building and was apprehended nearby. The second, a female, the homeowner, appeared injured and was in obvious distress. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Arlington Police began an immediate investigation during which they learned that earlier in the evening the defendant had forced his way into the victim’s home and sexually assaulted her.
Billingslea has a long history of violent and sexual assaults and has been twice before convicted of serious sexual assaults that classify him as type of offender targeted by Melissa’s law.
The prosecutors assigned to this case were Assistant District Attorney Kate Kleimolaand Assistant District Attorney Jessica Langsam. The Victim Witness Advocate was Helena Clarke.