20-year-old Buffalo man convicted of raping 15-year-old girl

An Erie County jury has convicted a 20-year-old Buffalo man of first-degree rape.

Rudell Jemes, 20, of Berkshire Street, was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl who had been locked inside the basement of his home on March 28, 2012, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday.

“A child rapist has been brought to justice,” District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said.

Jemes pinned the victim against a clothes dryer and assaulted her as she screamed for him to stop, according to a release from Sedita’s office. Jemes grabbed the victim by the hair, pulled her up the stairs, hit her in the face and threw her out the front door, according to the release.

Genetic evidence collected during the victim’s treatment at Women and Children’s Hospital matched Jemes’ DNA profile, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

When detectives questioned Jemes, he laughed as he denied having sexual contact with the victim, Sedita said in a statement.

Jemes faces a prison sentence of up to 25 years when sentenced on Aug. 9 by Erie County Judge Kenneth Case.