| For Immediate Release Case # 04ZF0052 September 22, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
SERIAL RAPIST SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE FOR MURDER, RAPE, KIDNAPPING, AND BURGLARY
SANTA ANA – A Santa Ana man was sentenced today to life without the possibility of parole for murdering a woman who was attempting to stop him from kidnapping her friend. The defendant was also sentenced to a consecutive life term plus 119 years and four months in state prison for committing a series of rapes both before and after committing the murder.
At Shipp’s sentencing today, one of the victims gave a victim impact statement to the effect of:
When you kidnapped me I begged you to release me, and you didn’t let me go. I invoked the name of God and you still didn’t let me go. Now it is God who will judge you.
CONVICTIONS
On Sept. 18, 2009, James Detory Shipp, 41, pleaded guilty to one felony count of special circumstances murder during an attempted commission of a rape of another victim, with a sentencing enhancement allegation of the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. Shipp also pleaded guilty to one felony count of kidnapping to commit rape, one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object by force with a sentencing enhancement that the crime was committed during a residential burglary, one felony count of kidnapping with intent to commit unlawful sex act, one felony count of forcible rape with the sentencing enhancement that the rape was committed during a kidnapping and a firearm was used during the sex offense, one felony count of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of forcible lewd act on a child under 14, one felony count of residential burglary with the intent to commit rape, one felony count of forcible rape with the sentencing enhancement that the rape was committed during a residential burglary, and assault with the intent to commit a sex offense.
SEXUAL ASSAULTS
On Aug. 8, 1995, at about 10:00 p.m., Jane Doe #1 was in her Fountain Valley apartment getting ready for bed. The defendant entered her home through a sliding glass door and ordered her to get on her bed, where he forcibly digitally penetrated her before leaving. Shipp left his DNA at the scene.
On Dec. 17, 1997, at about 10:00 p.m., Jane Doe #2 was walking home from work in Santa Ana with her mother. Shipp kidnapped her with the intent to commit a sexual offense by using a firearm, drove her in his black Nissan Altima to another location, and forcibly raped her before allowing her to leave. Shipp’s DNA was recovered from Jane Doe #2.
On Jan. 14, 2001, at about 8:30 p.m., 13-year-old Jane Doe#4 was walking down a street in Orange. Shipp lured her into his car by offering her a ride and place to stay. Shipp forcibly committed a lewd act upon her by raping her in his apartment in Orange. The defendant allowed Jane Doe #4 to leave after the assault and she later reported the crime to the Orange Police Department (OPD).