The man who broke into a DeKalb County church and raped a woman pleaded guilty to the crimes Friday in court and was sentenced to two life sentences.
John Russell Carver, 51, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including rape, armed robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, burglary and possession of a knife during commission of a felony, according to Erik Burton in the DeKalb County District Attorney's office.
Judge Asha Jackson sentenced Carver to two consecutive life sentences plus 115 years behind bars for the crimes.
"This was an extremely violent and vicious act," District Attorney Robert James said. "He brutally attacked and raped a woman in a local church. Hopefully this guilty plea will bring resolve for both the victim of this crime and the community affected by this monstrous act."
On a Saturday afternoon, Feb. 26, 2011, Carver knocked on the door of St. Timothy United Methodist Church on Memorial Drive and asked for help. A 53-year-old employee, who was alone inside the church, opened the door to see who was there, James previously said. Carver beat the woman, stomped on her head and, bearing a knife, raped her, James said.
Carver also stole the victim's cell phone, which he later sold the same day at Underground Atlanta.
After an intense search for the suspect, detectives identified Carver as a suspect after the Georgia Bureau of Investigations connected him to the crime with DNA, police previously said. At the time, Carver was in the Fulton County Jail after being arrested on unrelated charges.
In April 2011, Carver was indicted on a dozen charges.
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