Serial criminal sentenced to life for rape

Alvin McCullogh, a Fayetteville, Arkansas criminal with an extensive history starting when he was 18, was sentenced to life for the rape of a 22 year old woman in the fall of 2006 plus 40 years and a $15,000 fine for kidnapping and burglary charges. The victim was walking home from a bar and McCullough attacked and raped her at her house.

Fourth Circuit Judge William Storey stacked the life sentence for Alvin McCullough on top of 47 years he received after a jury trial in May, when he was found guilty of two residential burglary charges and an attempted residential burglary charge for home invasions in December 2006 in Fayetteville.

McCullough has a criminal history that goes back to age 18, when he solicited a 14-year-old girl to have sexual relations. He also has a battery conviction for hitting a police officer. He went to prison on both charges.

Washington County Prosecutor John Threet on Wednesday argued for a life sentence after the jurors found McCullough guilty of the rape, kidnapping and residential burglary charges related to the Oct. 29, 2006, incident.

"He cannot get back out. He's shown what he does when he's out and he's free."

The defense lawyers, Bruce Schlegel and Scott Parks, argued for leniency while acknowledging his client's previous criminal history.

"People at 22 aren't the same people at 32," Schlegel said.

"All of them have been out of this court," Parks said.

He added that the penitentiary "killed my client's soul"before he began committing more crimes, including the rape in October 2006 and the home invasions in December 2006.
Storey went ahead and imposed the jury-recommended sentences.

Those sentences were 40 years plus a $15,000 fine for the kidnapping and burglary charges McCullough also faced.

"What mercy was shown to the victim in this case "Storey asked. "There is no compelling reason to show mercy at this point."

He told McCullough," You're without a doubt a habitual offender," and said that he has become "a menace to society."

The rape charges were laid after a DNA match from Arkansas' state crime lab.