Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – A Camillus man will spend more than a decade in prison for raping a woman while she slept.
Joseph Canfield
had been charged with rape and sexual abuse.
The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office said that the incident occurred at the home of a mutual friend.
The victim had been celebrating her 21st birthday. At Canfield's sentencing on Tuesday, the victim stated that her life has been a nightmare since the incident. She said it’s a pain that will be with her for the rest of her life.
“Because of him I've gone through many drug and alcohol problems in the past year and I felt crazy living my own life,” she said.
But with her attacker headed to prison, she feels justice has been served.
"I get to look at him and see I am no longer the victim and he is. Now he can look forward to the pain and suffering I endured,” she said.
Canfield’s attorney, James McGraw, read his statement in court, reiterating the crux of his defense – that the sex between Canfield and his victim was consensual.
"This was a night of two truly intoxicated people that led to sex and it was a mistake on my part,” McGraw read on behalf of Canfield.
Prosecutors say the victim was unconscious before the rape and that Canfield took advantage of her.
"In terms of his comments, it’s been his delusion all along and he knows what happened and there was no question in this case that she was completely unconscious,” said Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Cali.
He was sentenced to 11 years and will be subject to five years of supervision after his release from prison.
