Man pleads guilty in rape of Norfolk hotel housekeeper
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A man has pleaded guilty to raping a housekeeper last year at a hotel in Downtown Norfolk.
30-year-old Donte Jamal Davis accepted a plea agreement on Thursday that had him plead guilty to rape as charged.
The rape happened on May 15, 2023, at the Waterside Marriott off Main Street. Prosecutors say Davis came into a room that the employee was cleaning and threatened her with a knife before raping her.
Man arrested for alleged sexual assault at Waterside Marriot in Norfolk
When a supervisor came to check on the victim, Davis ran away and threatened to kill the supervisor after she chased him, prosecutors say. Davis was spotted on surveillance footage of the hotel, and was later spotted by an off-duty officer on light rail.
Investigators were able to get footage of Davis via search warrant from Hampton Roads Transit, and later executed a search on Davis’ home. They found items Davis was wearing in surveillance footage, and say DNA testing of the items found the victim’s blood and Davis’ sperm.
“I feel deeply for the survivor of Mr. Davis’ crime,” said Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “She was at work, doing her job, and caring for others, and Mr. Davis preyed on her where she deserved to feel safe. I hope that Mr. Davis’ admission of his guilt and his eventual sentencing will offer her some closure. Mr. Davis’ conviction will protect the community from further violence.”
A judge will determine Davis’ sentence, which can’t be greater than 31 years in prison under the plea agreement.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
