Man sentenced to 14 years for raping 91-year-old woman

A Maricopa County judge sentenced a man who raped a 91-year-old woman to 14 years in prison, calling it one of the most heinous cases he has ever seen.

Ekwunze Job "E.J." Owen Jr., 24, had pleaded guilty to breaking in to the woman's Tempe home and raping her Nov. 8.

Multiple members of the community involved spoke in court Monday morning about why Owen should or should not receive the maximum 14 years behind bars.

Detective David Hanson of the Tempe Police Department said the case was the most appalling he ever had worked, and he asked the judge to give Owen the harshest punishment possible.

Likewise, a tenant of the victim sent a letter expressing how sweet the woman is and that Owen should serve the maximum amount of time behind bars.

Prosecuting attorney Ryan Powell said Owen progressed from indecent exposure to sexual assault, which Powell called the beginning signs of a serial rapist. He stressed that the case would have been appalling regardless of the age of the victim, and he thinks Owen should spend the rest of his life in prison.

The victim's statement resonated with those in the courtroom. The 91-year-old woman did not ask for Owen to be punished or say how long she thought he should spend behind bars.

Rather, she said she wanted her case to be an inspiration for other women who are sexually abused.

"I am here today to ask women in general: If this happens to you, do not be embarrassed. Do not be ashamed. Be strong. Go to the police," the woman said.

She told Judge Peter Reinstein that her only request was that the world know that it's important to stand against sexual assault.

Owen's family was present at the sentencing and said he was being painted as someone he wasn't. His sisters and grandmother, with tears in their eyes, asked the judge to be merciful toward him.

"I just want to say he's a good person, and if you guys can have mercy on him," his younger sister Grace Owen said. "He's like the peacemaker of the family."

Owen, who was handcuffed, said he pleaded guilty because he was misinformed that the victim was too old and not well enough cognitively to give consent.

He claims that changed when he learned that she was well enough to give consent.

"I did not rape this woman," Owen said multiple times.

Police arrested Owen on Nov. 12. It was a combined effort between the Tempe and Mesa police departments to arrest the man on suspicion of a series of sexual crimes.

Police said Owen started as a peeping tom, progressed to indecent exposure and, finally, sexual assault.

Owen broke into the woman's home, and she locked herself in the bathroom, authorities said. Owen tried to persuade the woman to come out. When she refused, he kicked the door in and raped her, police said.

In addition to 14 years in prison, Owen will have 16 years of probation. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.