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19-year-old accused of raping 57-year-old woman behind Ocean View Food Mart

Posted at 11:32 AM, Dec 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-12 18:18:14-05

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk Police arrested a 19-year-old man and accused him of raping a 57-year-old woman in Ocean View.

Joseph Sheets

Joseph Sheets

Joseph Cody Sheets was arrested for strangulation, abduction, assault and rape.

The incident happened on November 3 near the Ocean Food Mart on the 3000 block of East Ocean View.

Court records indicate the victim had severe swelling, bruising and marks to her face, neck and arm.

She said the suspect met up with her behind the Food Mart and the suspect began to touch her sexually and insinuated that he wanted to have sex with her, but she said no.

Records say he got angry, got on top of her and started punching her in the face.

The victim said he put his hands around her neck and squeezed until the point where she could not breathe and thought she was “going to die." She was screaming "no" while he raped her and continued to punch her.

She told authorities the entire ordeal lasted about an hour and a half.

Both the victim and suspect are homeless, according to the report.

Records indicated that the victim does not want to prosecute. Sheets allegedly told police he didn't know the victim at all but then confessed to the crime, according to a search warrant.

Sheets is being held without bond in the Norfolk City Jail and has a court hearing on January 8.