Rapist sentenced to prison

PALMER -- The man who abducted and raped a Palmer woman two years ago received an eight-year prison term.

Micah Beshaw's sentence, handed down Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Bev Cutler, calls for 12 years with four suspended -- the maximum allowed in the case under Alaska law. With good behavior, he will be eligible for mandatory parole in five years, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Portia Parker.

Cutler had no options under the state's sentencing guidelines, other than the length of probation and whether to impose a fine.

Beshaw was defiant during a brief, occasionally profane, statement just before sentencing. He maintained his innocence, even on the first-degree sexual assault charge to which he pleaded no contest.

"This woman didn't even see her attacker," Beshaw said. "I'm sorry, but it wasn't me. This whole case was nothing but a bunch of idiots running around with their thumbs up their butts."

Beshaw, 28, originally was charged with nine felonies, including two counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of kidnapping. He pleaded no contest to a Sept. 22, 2001, rape and was charged with raping another woman a week later. Other women also said they were attacked by Beshaw but prosecutors settled for the plea bargain because most alleged victims declined to appear in court.

"If a victim has things they do not want to be made public, we remain sensitive to that," Assistant District Attorney Bob Collins said. "As much as you want to go after someone like Mr. Beshaw, you do not want to further traumatize the victims."

He said the DA's office made the plea agreement "reluctantly," and noted other states have harsher penalties for rape. Collins said he once prosecuted a rape case similar to Beshaw's in Illinois and the defendant got 50 years in prison.

Cutler, too, acknowledged the sentence seemed lenient but her hands were tied. The judge imposed the maximum probation of 10 years, which begins when Beshaw leaves prison. She also stipulated that he must pay $50,000 restitution to the state at the rate of $5,000 per year during each year of probation.

Defense attorney Verne Rupright sought seven years' probation for his client, but Cutler cited Beshaw's lack of remorse.

"He does not believe he has problems with his own behavior," she said. "He obviously believes we are all wrong. Mr. Beshaw, I am not sure what has caused the rage and anger in you. Something must have gone very wrong to allow you to treat other people so callously."

Beshaw will be listed on a sex offenders' registry for the rest of his life. In addition, he is barred from employment requiring unsupervised contact with females during his probation.

Beshaw accosted the rape victim at 11 p.m. as she walked home from work along the Glenn Highway. The woman said a masked man grabbed her, dragged her into the bushes and raped her. Then he duct-taped her hands together and drove to another location where he raped her again, according to court documents.

The state crime lab linked Beshaw to the rape by DNA found on a blanket in his truck.

The victim spoke during Tuesday's court session, outlining the years of frustration and pain she experienced.

"I continued working but the anxiety I felt at this time was almost overwhelming, knowing that the perpetrator was a repeat offender, had raped someone the week after me and was still in the area," she said.

Beshaw was arrested on Jan. 11, 2002. A trial date was set but there was a series of postponements.

"This is not unusual at all," the victim said. "It is apparently in the defendant's interest things drag on slowly -- more time for the victims to forget, to move and get lost or abandon any hope for justice and give up on their case.

"Each time that happens, it's hell on your nerves. You get all ready to go and then -- postponed at the last minute."

Another woman, who was 16 when Beshaw allegedly raped her, gave an unsworn statement during the court session. Now 18, she still lives with her parents.

"I used to have a job but I can't go on with a job because it's too stressful," she said, crying. "I survived this but it has been hell on my life."

Cutler asked the woman what society should do "if we can't completely rid ourselves of people with such deranged behavior."

The woman shrugged. "I don't think there's any help for him," she said.