Ex-Augusta Correctional Center inmate sentenced to 30 years

Brad Zinn
The News Leader
Sean S. Earl was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday in Augusta County Circuit Court.

STAUNTON - A former Augusta Correctional Center inmate already serving more than three decades in prison for murder was handed an additional 30 years in prison Friday for attempting to rape a female employee last summer at the prison.

In May, a judge convicted Sean S. Earl, 31, on charges of attempted rape, abduction, damaging a phone line and indecent exposure for the sexual assault.

But Friday in Augusta County Circuit Court, Earl said if cameras had been in place inside the employee's office, where the attack took place, the case would have had a different outcome.

"I feel like I'm the victim in the situation," Earl said.

Testimony showed Earl was supposed to meet the woman inside her prison office Aug. 13, 2018. Before the meeting, the woman warned a nearby corrections officer and told him if Earl didn’t quickly return from the visit she wanted the officer to check on her. He never did. 

Earl entered the office, started masturbating in front of the woman and pinned her against a wall.

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The woman testified she tried to make an emergency phone call but Earl knocked the phone out of her hand. She also unsuccessfully tried to radio for help. Her screams finally alerted nearby inmate Jeffrey Michel.

Michel came into the room, and as he fought with Earl the woman was able to escape.

During the trial, Earl denied he exposed himself or tried to rape the woman. He claimed he was attacked by the smaller inmate, who ended up getting punched about 10 times in the face, testimony showed.

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In court Friday, testimony revealed Earl was raised in the projects in Portsmouth, had an absentee father and was a special education student.

"He didn't have a chance to begin with," Deputy Public Defender Duane Barron said.

Prior to sentencing, Augusta County Commonwealth's Attorney Tim Martin didn't request a specific sentence but did state he didn't want Earl "to get out again."

Judge Michael S. Irvin sentenced Earl to 30 years in prison on the four charges.

Earl is already serving 31 years for killing a man in Portsmouth in 2006 when he was 18 years old, according to the Virginian-Pilot. 

Now being held at Red Onion State Prison, a supermax in Wise County, Earl had a release date of Jan. 2, 2037, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections.

With the additional 30 years, he will now be in his 70s when released.

Following the hearing, Martin said Earl "deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison and this sentence will get us very close to that."

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