Today, an Anchorage Superior Court judge sentenced an Anchorage man to 25 years in prison for tying up a teen girl and raping her.
Earlier this year, 18-year-old Jessye Potts pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual assault. Police say Potts knew the 17-year-old girl he bound with duct tape and sexually assaulted on New Year’s Day in Anchorage. He released the girl and allowed her to escape only after she promised she wouldn’t report the crime to authorities.
His sentencing on Monday afternoon took several hours. There, the court was able to hear from the female victim.
“It could have been just a walk. It should have been just a walk, but it wasn’t,” the victim said. “Instead, I got raped. I lost everything I used to have.”
As she addressed the court, she noted that after the Jan. 1 incident, her life hasn’t been the same.
“What happened on January 1, 2014 killed the old me,” she said. “I’m not the person I used to be. I can never say that I’m happy. I’ve never used the word happy all year.”
Potts was able to address the court as well. In his statement, he apologized to the victim directly.
“I’m sorry for my string of poor decisions and how they’ve hurt you, [victim's initials],” said Potts. “I’m sorry for everyone that’s had to deal with the repercussions of my actions. I will try my hardest to change how I act and try to successfully rehabilitate from this devious act as well as my drug addiction.”
Judge Michael Spaan, who handed down the sentence, spoke to the psychological effects of rape and sexual assault.
“It’s the emotional scars you put her through that are going to be with her forever,” Spaan said to Potts. “Her head is going to heal just fine. The issue is you raping her and what that’s going to do to her and her family.”
Because of the nature of the crime, Potts is not eligible for early release due to good behavior. He was also sentenced to 15 years of probation.