Hosea Belford

A Sanderson man entered a plea on July 12 before his trial was scheduled to begin and was sentenced to six years in prison for the rape of a Margaretta woman in December, 2009.

Hosea K. (Porkchop) Belford, 55, who has a lengthy criminal record and has been in prison before, pleaded no contest to sexual battery by use of force not likely to cause serious injury, a second-degree felony. Circuit Judge Phyllis Rosier adjudicated him guilty and allowed credit for the 204 days he has been in county jail since his arrest.

Court records show that Mr. Belford overpowered the woman on a dirt road not far from her residence early that morning while giving her a ride home from Brenda’s Place in Sanderson. He had the previous evening driven her to the bar where she believed her fiancé had gone.

The 30-year-old victim, who called police after running to her residence, said she physically resisted Mr. Belford’s advances after he stopped his Ford pickup on the road and dimmed the headlights. During her struggle to get out from under him, they both fell out the passenger side door and onto the ground, where he then raped her.

The victim was examined that morning at the Rape Crisis Center in Jacksonville while police searched for Mr. Belford.

Assistant State Attorney Greg Edwards said the defendant will not be allowed gain time while in prison. Had he been convicted, he could have been sentenced from between 15-30 years. A rape with bodily harm or use of a weapon carries a life sentence.

Mr. Belford was represented at public expense by Ray Cauthon of Gainesville.

The jury had not been chosen Monday morning when the plea was entered, though prospective jurors were assembled. The state proceeded afterward to select a new grand jury from the venire.

Mr. Belford was released from prison in January, 2008 after serving a two-year sentence for sale and delivery of cocaine. His arrest record also includes battery, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief and driving on a suspended license.

He will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.