Troy Brake guilty in assault case

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Troy Brake has been found guilty on four counts in the rape and beating of Mary Louise Parker, a prostitute.

The jury was sent out for deliberations just before noon Thursday. Jurors returned three and a half hours later with their decision.

Brake was found guilty on assault with intent to murder, rape, felony assault and using a gun in a crime. He faces up to life in prison during sentencing on April 21.

During closing arguments in the morning, Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker said Brake's motive was simple, though it was nothing he had to prove.

"There is evil in this world and there is evil in this room," Becker told jurors. Brake may not look evil, "but there is evil in this man."

Becker said Brake wanted to kill Parker as he beat her early in the morning of Oct. 16, 2008. She suffered gashes to her head, a bruised and banged-up face, a broken rib and other injuries.

"Can you imagine the force it takes to almost rip somebody's ear off? This is rage," said Becker.

Parker survived, Becker said, only because Grand Rapids Police Officer Gene Tobin happened on the scene -- on Burton Street near Newark Avenue SE.

"For 15 minutes, he's pounding this woman," Becker said. "The only thing that stopped him was that Officer Tobin stopped him in the nick of time."

Becker held up Parker's torn jeans, which Brake had ripped off of her.

"This is the level of force used to get these pants off," he said. "That fact her pants and underwear were off are evidence of a sexual assault."

Brake's attorney, Paul McDonagh, tried pushing some of the blame on the victim.

"Not an excuse, but Mary Parker chose a profession. She knew there would be a risk," he said.

McDonagh said Parker's injuries weren't serious enough to show Brake tried to kill her.

Brake took the witness stand Wednesday for about half an hour, acknowledging he beat Parker, but denying he sexually assaulted her. He said he was angry because a man had tried to rob him after he picked Parker up on the street.

Brake fought off the robber, he said, and then took out his anger on her.

Brake's family remained in the courtroom Thursday, with his mother often wiping away tears.

Brake is also accused of murdering four people in Ottawa County's Wright Township. That trial is set to begin in May.