Student Pleads Guilty to Rape
A Marshall High School student pleaded guilty yesterday in Fairfax County to raping two women near the Dunn Loring Metro station last fall and could face 30 years or more in prison at sentencing in July.
Prosecutors said Michael Scott Acosta, 19, admitted to police that he was involved in four attacks on women in the Dunn Loring area in September and October. He entered pleas to rape in two of the cases, each carrying five-year minimum sentences, and abduction with intent to defile, which carries a 20-year minimum. Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Robert W. Wooldridge Jr. can impose longer sentences or suspend some of the time.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ian M. Rodway said Acosta, then a senior at Marshall, snatched both victims from behind, placed a hand over their mouths and dragged them into wooded areas before raping them Sept. 21 and Oct. 7. A jacket Acosta left behind at another attack led police to him, court records showed. Acosta did not make a statement yesterday.
"He's very remorseful and apologetic. He accepts responsibility for his actions," his attorney, Daniel T. Lopez, said.
-- Tom Jackman
By |
March 30, 2006; 10:24 AM ET
| Category:
Crime
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Posted by: Why? | March 30, 2006 10:35 AM
This person should be put away for a long, long time. Sick!
Posted by: Citizen | March 30, 2006 2:14 PM
Why do you use "Marshall High School" as an identifier, placing those three words first, as though that has anything to do with this guy being sick and twisted? Don't suppose it has anything to do with his family background? Can't you ease up on the thoughtless profiling of everyone you write about?
Posted by: You are high school | March 30, 2006 6:00 PM
Please do not equate all mental illness (a medical diagnosis) with violence. I have read nothing yet that claims this guy was mentally ill. Just because you cannot fathom how a person behaves does not make them mentally ill.
Rape is about rage and control and dominance.
Posted by: Clarification | March 31, 2006 8:20 AM
Careful reading would show that no one on this blog equated "all" mental illness with violence. That's ludicrous, of course.
It's certainly possible that the criminal at issue has a mental illness, but that's not for most of us to judge.
He certainly does deserve harsh punishment.
Posted by: To Clarification | April 3, 2006 9:05 AM
I grew up with Michael is Austin. He was a good kid and it's hard to hear this stuff about him. I'm not so naive as to think he is the same person as he was and that he isn't capable of this. I just know it's not the Michael I know and it definitely is not a reflection on his up bringing.
Posted by: star | July 24, 2006 4:59 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Why do men who rape strangers on footpaths do it? I can't accept mental illness as the only reason, although I think they must be wired incorrectly.
Is he really "remorseful"? Did he think about the risk of being caught? Did he think about his mother when he attacked someone else's mother or sister or cousin? Was his IQ so low that he could rationalize his actions? Was it thrilling for him?
Does any expert among the bloggers know the answers to these questions?