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A former West Passyunk resident will spend up to about seven decades in prison for two separate crimes.
Christopher Reeves, 33, formerly of the 1900 block of South 23rd Street, will serve 31-and-a-half to 63 years in jail for raping a woman in a Bella Vista coffee shop a year ago and another two-and-a-half to five years for 2010 theft and receiving stolen property charges.
Reeves, who is believed to have been homeless at the time, entered Bean Exchange Coffee House, 650 Bainbridge St., and asked a 29-year-old employee for some cash at 6 a.m. March 31, ’11, according to police. Although she gave him a few dollars, he returned 30 minutes later demanding cash. He took $173 from the till and pushed the woman inside the shop’s bathroom where he sexually assaulted her.
He was arrested three days later in Chester while attempting to find a homeless shelter, Assistant District Attorney Michael Stackow said.
Bail was set at $150,000 April 5 and doubled April 21 after Stackow made a point that Reeves failed to appear for court for the theft sentencing March 24, ’11 — a week prior to the assault, but a month after being released on his own recognizance upon pleading guilty to the Dec. 28, ’10 incident, according to court records. He pled guilty to rape and robbery Oct. 12, ’11.
Court of Common Pleas Judge William J. Mazzola sentenced Reeves to three consecutive eight-and-a-half-to-17-year sentences for rape and two counts of forcible compulsion plus another six to 12 years for robbery March 23 while three days later Court of Common Pleas Judge Rayford A. Means added two sentences of two-and-a-half to five years to run simultaneously, but consecutive to the former jail time.
He will remain at the state prison in Montgomery County, according to court records.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
Also in this week’s Police Report:
Camera capture
Alleged stabber nabbed
ATM hauled away
Dodging a bullet
Code cracked
In March’s Court Report:
Child rapist pleads guilty
Pill popping
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