An Indianapolis man pleaded guilty Wednesday to raping an IU student, committing armed robbery and assisting to shoot at a police officer as part of a plea deal that has been months in the making.
Michael Deweese’s charges include seven counts of rape, attempted murder, armed robbery, criminal confinement, burglary and resisting law enforcement. All were assisted by use of a firearm and all took place on Nov. 9, 2014, in Bloomington, just northwest of campus in an apartment complex.
Deweese, 20, pled guilty to acting as an accomplice to seven of a total of 15 charges. One of the three criminal confinement charges out of a total of fifteen initial charges was dismissed today during the deal.
More than a year has passed since Deweese broke into the Bloomington home of three female IU students, raped or assisted the rape of two of the 24-year-olds at gunpoint, stole their computer and cell phone and then assisted the attempted murder of police officer William Abram.
Deweese was allegedly with another Indianapolis man, Vaylen Glazebrook, 20, who is charged with four counts of rape, attempted murder, criminal confinement, armed robbery and burglary. He has not yet been convicted nor pleaded guilty.
As he waited for the judge to come out, Deweese sat quietly in his grey striped uniform with his hands folded. He nodded at his grandfather, who was sitting a few yards away in the small courtroom.
The hearing lasted more than an hour. Judge Marc Kellams walked Deweese through the 15 charges, defining the charges’ felony status and length of sentencing.
For each count, Kellams asked Deweese if he understood the nature of the charges, to which Deweese responded, “Yes, your honor.”
Kellams went over the defendant’s waiver of rights, confirming Deweese’s understanding that, after signing a plea deal, Deweese no longer holds the right to appeal a conviction, testify in front of a jury or subpoena the victims to testify in front of a jury.
He asked Deweese to confirm he had 11 years of education, and that he dropped out of high school as a junior.
“Yes, your honor.”
Deweese’s defense attorney Roy Graham reminded Deweese that signing the plea deal meant his story would not be heard in front of a jury, and he could not call into question the accounts of the police officer or victims.
“That’s important,” Graham said. Deweese said he understood.
Graham then went through each of the 15 charges in great detail. As Graham went over each event, he asked Deweese to affirm his guilt and answer “guilty.”
Deweese kept his eyes focused on Graham, even though at each “guilty” response, his grandfather sniffled.
When Graham described the first four counts of rape, detailing how Glazebrook inserted his penis into the mouth, vagina and anus of one of the victims, Deweese’s grandfather removed his glasses, wiping tears from his eyes.
Graham then described the second set of rape counts in which Deweese attempted to insert his penis into the mouth, vagina and anus of the second female. Graham made a point to say, whether Deweese had “an erection or not,” he still raped the woman.
“Guilty,” Deweese said.
Though Deweese pled guilty to acting as an accomplice in the attempted murder charge, his attorney wanted to stipulate, for the record, that he did not intend harm to the officer or to rape the women, he had only entered the home with the intent to commit armed robbery.
Prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Kehr pointed out Deweese had entered the home with a gun and therefore had the intent to use it if necessary, and according to Kehr, Deweese knew he would benefit from Glazebrook allegedly shooting at the cop.
Deweese’s response was the only full sentence he said during the entire hearing:
“I would rather that he not shot at the officer.”
Graham then again went through every single charge, stipulating the facts of Deweese’s guilt.
He clarified the entire event, from the break-in to shooting at the cop, lasted five to 10 minutes.
And he again noted that Deweese had only intended to break in with Glazebrook and commit armed robbery.
“That’s just not where this went, right?”
Deweese nodded.
The now finalized plea deal satisfies both Deweese’s defense attorney and the prosecution. Kellams will not formally accept the plea deal into the court record until a probation officer conducts a pre-sentencing investigation.
Deweese’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 19. Some, but not all, of the sentences may be held concurrently and not consecutively, Kellams said.
Graham requested three hours of the court’s time for the sentencing hearing.
“There’s a story to be told here,” Graham said.
Kellams hesitated before agreeing to the time.
As Deweese stood to leave, he locked eyes with his grandfather, smiled and lifted his hand to say goodbye.
Deweese's charges and pleas
Attempted murder
Vaylen Glazebrook shot at police officer William Abram as the two fled the apartment.
Accomplice
Rape
Holding a gun, Vaylen Glazebrook forced his penis into the mouth of victim one. Used threat of deadly force.
Accomplice
Rape
Holding a gun, Vaylen Glazebrook forced his fingers into the vagina of victim one. Used threat of deadly force.
Accomplice
Rape
Holding a gun, Vaylen Glazebrook forced his penis into the vagina of victim one. Used threat of deadly force.
Accomplice
Rape
Holding a gun, Vaylen Glazebrook forced his penis into the anus of victim one. Used threat of deadly force.
Accomplice
Rape
Holding a gun, Michael Deweese forced his penis into the mouth of victim two. Used threat of deadly force.
Guilty
Rape
Holding a gun, Michael Deweese forced his penis into the anus of victim two. Used threat of deadly force.
Guilty
Rape
Holding a gun, Michael Deweese forced his penis into the vagina of victim two. Used threat of deadly force.
Guilty
Burglary
Both men broke in and entered home of victim one, victim two, victim three.
Guilty
Armed Robbery
Holding a firearm, Michael Deweese stole the computer of victim one. Threat of deadly force.
Guilty
Armed Robbery
Holding a firearm, Vaylen Glazebrook stole the cell phone of victim two. Threat of deadly force.
Accomplice
Criminal confinement
Vaylen Glazebrook, Michael Deweese held a third woman, victim three, against her will.
Dismissed*
*Dismissed because Michael Deweese did not know the third woman was in the house; he unknowingly held her against her will.
Criminal confinement
Vaylen Glazebrook held victim one against her will.
Accomplice
Criminal confinement
Michael Deweese held victim two against her will.
Guilty
Resisting law enforcement
Michael Deweese and Vaylen Glazebrook ran from police.
Guilty
