Veto St rape suspect pleads to 8 counts

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - One of five suspects in a June sexual assault has pleaded guilty to all eight of the charges against him.

James Edward Hodges pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, four counts of armed robbery and one count of first-degree home invasion, court records show.

Hodges, along with three other men and a juvenile, was arrested less than a week after the June 4 assault of a young woman during a break-in at a Veto Street NW residence in Grand Rapids.

The victim testified the suspects pistol-whipped her in the face and head, tied her hands behind her back and blindfolded her with a bandana. She said she was raped by two suspects and forced to perform oral sex on two others.

The other people in the house were also attacked and tied up when the men broke in during the early morning hours, police say.

Prosecutors will seek for Hodges to serve consecutive sentences, court records show, but will not pursue any additional charges for armed robberies or breaking-and-enterings.

Hodges was remanded to the Kent County Correctional Facility without bond pending his sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.

Still facing charges are the unnamed 14-year-old, who is being charged as an adult but being processed through the juvenile court, Dorian Jones, Rederick Melton and Brandon Towns.