Pocono News Section

Convicted Kidnapper, Rapist Sentenced

Convicted Kidnapper, Rapist Sentenced - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 5:40PM EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Joseph Eckrote of Plymouth Township was sentenced to at least 14 years in Luzerne County court Thursday. He was convicted of kidnapping and raping his ex-girlfriend. Eckrote told Eyewitness News he regretted his decision to commit those crimes.
In May, 2008 he kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and drove her into the woods in Plymouth Township. He raped her and ran off. After a massive police search, he surrendered to state police, 11 days later.

Now he'll spend at least 14 years in prison. Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Jenny Roberts says, "The defendant’s going to stay in there for a significant period of time and hopefully when and if he does get out he'll have no contact with the victims because he was ordered not to."

Eckrote says he kidnapped his ex-girlfriend because he was upset about their sons drug use. He stuck to that story in Thursday's sentencing and had words for the judge.

We asked Eckrote if he had any reaction after his sentence. Eckrote said, “Yeah, Olszewski took my son's life and now he took mine. That's all I got to say."

But prosecutors say Eckrote still show no remorse. Roberts says, "He actually still continues to deny part of the charges he was convicted of so no I don't think that he did."

When Eckrote gets out of prison, he'll have to register as a violent sex offender for life. Eckrote says he'll appeal his ruling, even apply for a mistrial.