2004 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

May 18, 2004

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi reported today that a jury on Monday, May 17, 2004, found Richard Hill, M/45, guilty of Kidnapping, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Terroristic Threats and weapons offenses in connection with an incident in August 2001 at his residence in Oaklyn, N.J.

The defendant faces at least 15 years and up to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison when Superior Court Judge William J. Cook sentences him on Aug. 6, 2004. Under the No Early Release Act, he will have to serve at least 85 percent of whatever sentence Cook imposes.

Testimony indicated that in the early morning hours of Aug. 17, 2001, Hill, of the first block of West Beechwood Avenue, and a co-defendant used a knife to threaten the victim, who was 28, to keep her from leaving Hill's detached garage and to rape her. When her assailants fell asleep, the victim ran to the White Horse Pike and called police from a pay phone, testimony indicated.

The co-defendant, Ryan Shavitz, M/26, of Langhorne, Pa., pleaded guilty in March 2002 to Aggravated Sexual Assault, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping and weapons offenses.

Sarubbi noted the importance of the victim's testimony during Hill's trial.

"I commend this courageous woman for her strength in cooperating fully in the investigation and for providing key testimony at trial," Sarubbi said.

Sarubbi thanked all of the members of his office and the Oaklyn Police Department who investigated and prosecuted the case. He especially commended Rosalie Jones, a counselor in his office's Victim-Witness Unit. Jones provided support and services to the victim and her family.

"Certainly the investigators and prosecutors deserve a great deal of credit for this verdict, but Rosalie too played a key role in bringing this defendant to justice at trial," Sarubbi said. "She helped the victim find the strength within herself to get through the horrifying ordeal."

Sarubbi also commended Assistant Prosecutor Mindy Mellitts, Investigator Bill Townsend, Crime Scene Investigator Grace Clodfelter, Oaklyn Police Patrolwoman Jayne Jones and former Oaklyn Police Detective Patrick Dolgos for their exemplary efforts in the case.