A New Jersey jury Friday found a female Rutgers University philosophy professor guilty of raping a severely disabled, cerebral palsy-stricken man with whom she claimed to have been in a consensual relationship.
Dr Anna Stubblefield, 45, broke down in shaking sobs and held her head in her hands as she was convicted on two counts of felony first-degree aggravated sexual assault.
The college educator faces up to 40 years in prison for raping a mentally disabled 34-year-old man, known only as DJ, in her Newark office in 2011.
The verdict was read out shortly before 11am to a packed courtroom at the Essex County courthouse in Newark after the six-week trial.
The victim's family showed little reaction in the public gallery.
Her defence lawyer James Patton requested that Stubblefield be released on bail because she was not a flight risk and had her 15-year-old daughter to take care of, who has significant emotional problems and suffers from bi-polar disorder.
He said that the girl was completely estranged from her father and Stubblefield's family lived in the Detroit area and were not available on a day-to-day basis.
Patton added that the 45-year-old professor was not a danger to society, has no prior history of sexual misconduct and no criminal history.
Prosecutor Eric Plant opposed the request and asked that Stubblefield be placed in custody immediately.
Judge Siobhan Teare denied the defence’s request for bail. She said: 'it’s one thing to be accused and it’s another thing to be convicted.'
Stubblefield laid her head on the table and then sobbed: 'Please take care of my daughter.'
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for November 9.
Outside of the courtroom, defence lawyer James Patton said: 'We are obviously disappointed and we will continue to appeal.'
Mr Patton said that he would also be attempting to renew the bail appeal.
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