Former University student William Beebe, who was convicted earlier this year of sexually assaulting a fellow student during his time at the University, was released from the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail yesterday morning after serving a third of his 18-month sentence.
According to Charlottesville Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Claude Worrell, authorities shortened Beebe's jail time because of good behavior and further shortened his sentence by an additional four days because of time Beebe served for the same charge in a Las Vegas jail. Las Vegas police arrested Beebe last January on a Virginia warrant for the rape case and detained him there, Worrell said, adding that Virginia officials asked that the Las Vegas police hold him for extradition to Virginia.
According to Larry Traylor, spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Corrections, Beebe is now under probation.
"Beebe is under parole through Chesterfield County, and once his parole ends he will continue to be under supervision," he added.
Beebe served time for his conviction of the aggravated sexual assault of Liz Seccuro at a 1984 fraternity rush event. Last March, Beebe was indicted on one charge of rape and one charge of object penetration and received his 18 month sentence.
Seccuro accused Beebe of rape after she received a letter of apology from him 20 years after the incident occurred. Beebe had written the letter as a part of his 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program.
Seccuro testified that she had been given a "pale-green" drink at the fraternity party and that Beebe brought her upstairs and sexually assaulted her.
Following his conviction earlier this year, Beebe's attorney Rhonda Quagliana emphasized the long-term implications of the conviction.
"The fact that he is going to be labeled a sexual offender ... is a terrible stigma to carry with you for the rest of your life," she said in a previous interview.
After handing down Beebe's sentence, Judge Edward Hogshire, Circuit Court Judge of Albemarle County commented on Beebe's willingness to apologize to Seccuro through his correspondence.
"That fact that he came forward to admit his wrongdoing is admirable," he said in an earlier interview. "I don't think the court system should discourage that,"
Quagliana was unable to be reached for comment concerning Beebe's release.
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