It took a jury about an hour to return a guilty verdict against a 58-year-old Dowagiac man for the rape of his home healthcare worker this week.
Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz says Robert Schmeltz attacked the home healthcare worker in August of last year.
The 65-year-old woman said during trial the defendant, a 350-pound man, became physically aggressive and held her down on the bed while raping her. Forensic evidence backed up the testimony.
Schmeltz claimed the sex was consensual. The jury didn’t buy that, and he was convicted of third degree criminal sexual conduct on Friday.
Cass County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mary Foster says the “outcome ensures justice for a terrible crime perpetrated against an innocent woman,” adding the victim incurred life-long traumatization.
Schmeltz will be sentenced in February.
