Former Lake County deputy gets 12 years in rape case

A former Lake County sheriff’s deputy convicted of sexually assaulting a woman during a traffic stop on New Year’s Day 2014 has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Matthew Donnelly was sentenced Tuesday and his attorney filed an appeal the same day. According to an affidavit, the victim and her boyfriend had been out celebrating at an Orlando bar when the boyfriend flagged down Donnelly because his girlfriend was passed out and needed help. Donnelly put the victim's boyfriend into the backseat of his patrol car and then the dash camera was turned off for 22 minutes, investigators said. Detectives said the victim's DNA was found in Donnelly's patrol car. He was convicted of sexual battery by a law enforcement officer in May 2015.

A former Lake County sheriff’s deputy convicted of sexually assaulting a woman during a traffic stop on New Year’s Day 2014 has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Matthew Donnelly was sentenced Tuesday and his attorney filed an appeal the same day.


According to an affidavit, the victim and her boyfriend had been out celebrating at an Orlando bar when the boyfriend flagged down Donnelly because his girlfriend was passed out and needed help.

Donnelly put the victim's boyfriend into the backseat of his patrol car and then the dash camera was turned off for 22 minutes, investigators said.

Detectives said the victim's DNA was found in Donnelly's patrol car.

He was convicted of sexual battery by a law enforcement officer in May 2015.