Newark – Prosecutors have secured a guilty plea from the man that tried to kidnap a woman from a downtown parking lot last summer.
Joseph B. Rudge, 35, of Newark faces at least 15 years in prison for an attempted kidnapping. Deputy Attorneys General Christina Kontis and Joe Grubb secured a guilty plea to Attempted Kidnapping Second Degree, Burglary Third Degree and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender from Rudge.
On July 3, 2016, at approximately 11:20 p.m., Rudge grabbed a 28-year-old University of Delaware student by the neck, and tried to place a wet rag over her mouth as she was unloading items from her car into her Colonial Gardens Apartment in the 300 block of East Main Street in Newark. The victim was able to scream and elbow Rudge, forcing him to run away.
Just a few hours later, on July 4th at around 3:33 a.m., a second victim, a 61-year-old-woman, was exiting her vehicle at Main Towers, at 330 East Main Street, when she was attacked from behind, according to police records. The suspect grabbed the victim’s neck and mouth and attempted to push her into the vehicle, according to a statement released by the Newark Police Department. The victim fought off the suspect, and the suspect fled on foot.
The statement from the prosecutors offices mentions the July 3rd incident. It did not mention if the second incident is part of the plea bargain agreement or if Rudge will face further court proceedings for that incident.
In 2001, Rudge was convicted of fourth-degree rape for sexual intercourse with a victim 12 to 15 years old, according to state records. He is presently labeled as a Tier 2 “moderate risk” sex offender.
It’s unclear if the prosecutors are seeking a lengthy sentence for the the man, who police say, tried to kidnap two Newark woman last summer, or if they are only seeking the minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years. Rudge is to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Richard Cooch in March.
Image Credits: Newark Police