“Riverside Rapist” resentenced to life in prison

A Jacksonville man known as the “Riverside Rapist” for a string of violent, sexual assault crimes he committed in 1985, has been resentenced to life in prison. There will be a review hearing in ten years.

“Based on the incredibly aggravating facts in these cases, we believe that life in prison is the only sentence that would adequately protect the community,” says a statement from Chief Assistant State Attorney L.E. Hutton.

Robert Roberson, now 46, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the opportunity for parole in 1986 but was granted a new sentencing hearing. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 2010 Graham v. Florida that a juvenile cannot be sentenced to life without parole for any crime other than homicide.

Roberson was found guilty burglary with an assault, sexual battery and unarmed robbery, after a court determined he broke into three Riverside homes and sexually assaulted three different women. He’s believed to be responsible for even more attacks.

In one incident, Roberson told the victim that “white women were only good for having sex with and then killing,” according to court documents. In the two other incidents, Roberson threatened the women with a gun.

After each of the sexual assaults, Roberson forced the women to kneel before him and dress him.

The court also found that Roberson committed his crimes with “premeditation and calculation,” in one instance he broke into an empty home and waited for his victim. Roberson did not previously know any of his victims.

All three sexual assaults were committed between Dec. 14 and Dec. 29, 1985.