Man convicted in Troy Mobile Home Park rapes | Crime

TROY, AL (WSFA) - A man has been found guilty for two rapes that set a Troy Mobile Home community on edge in March 2012.

Andre Lamon Ellis was arrested on April 25, 2012 after a manhunt ensued for the person responsible for two rapes and an armed robbery in the Hunter's Mountain Mobile Home Park.

Police released a sketch shortly after the first rape was reported that led to the discovery of a second victim, and ultimately, Ellis' capture.

A Pike County Jury found Ellis guilty today on two counts of rape first degree and one count of burglary second degree.

The Pike County District Attorney's Office says it will be seeking a sentence of life without parole for the rape charges and life in prison for the burglary charge.

Tom Anderson, the Pike County District Attorny issued this statement:

           " A few moments ago a Pike Co. Jury returned verdicts of GUILTY in two counts of Rape 1st Degree and 1 count of Burglary 2nd against Andre Ellis of Troy. The case involved the brutal attacks of two young ladies residing in the Hunter’s Mountain Trailer Park on March 26th, 2012.

            As District Attorney, I am proud of the efforts and job done by Assistant District Attorneys, Scherryl Harrison and Chris Kaminski and the staff of the District Attorney’s office.

            I am especially proud and grateful for the response and effort put into this case by the Troy Police Department, the detective division in its entirety and in particular, case agents, Sergeant Brian McLendon and Lieutenant Lee Barnes. These officers spared no effort in investigating, identifying and apprehending Andre Ellis.

            Most importantly, I want to thank and praise the two victims and their families for their patience and diligence in bringing this vicious criminal to justice. Those young ladies, so brutally violated, came forward to report their attacks and stood strong throughout the process to regain power and control from their attacker, Andre Ellis.

            We, in the criminal justice system, need the victims of sexual assaults to report these crimes and testify and so that we may make every effort to restore to them their dignity and deter future crimes. Statistics are overwhelming that a tremendous number of rape victims never tell anyone about their attack and even higher numbers never report it to police.

          The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that the majority of rapes and sexual assaults perpetrated against women and girls in the United States… were not reported to the police. Only 36 percent of rapes, 34 percent of attempted rapes, and 26 percent of sexual assaults were reported.

                A sentencing date will be set by Judge Kelly in the near future. The District Attorney’s office will be seeking a “Life, Without the Possibility of Parole” in the two Rape cases and Life in the Burglary 2nd Case."

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