Taupac R. Reed, 31, of Vine Street in Liverpool. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith/Cortland Voice).
A Liverpool man was sentenced to three years in prison -- plus five years of post-release supervision -- for his second-degree assault charge (a Class-D felony) on Thursday at Cortland County Court.
Taupac R. Reed, 31, of Vine Street in Liverpool, was convicted of his charge for his role in allegedly raping, beating and holding a woman against her will in her Cortland apartment between March 24-26 of this year.
The victim testified earlier this year that Reed, over the course of those few days in March, allegedly threatened her with a knife and choked her until she was unconscious. Prior to the altercation with Reed, the victim ran naked in her apartment hall while she attempted to receive help from neighbors.
Reed denied the allegations, but admitted he broke the victim’s ankle during the plea agreement in August. According to court documents, Reed claimed that the victim “fell on the floor” and he “stepped on her ankle.”
During the plea agreement in August, assistant district attorney Victoria Monty mentioned at first she “wasn’t anticipating the plea.”
The court documents also noted that Reed “wasn’t in the right frame of mind” due to the victim allegedly drugging Reed with morphine. The situation led to Reed and the victim engaging in an argument, which Reed said was “blown out of proportion.”
Monty said Reed takes “little, personal responsibility” for “deliberately injuring the victim.”
“The defendant minimizes his behavior,” Monty said. “That (ankle) injury only happens when there’s a significant amount of force.”
Defense attorney Kayla Hardesty reversed Monty’s comments, saying that Reed “takes accountability for what happened.”
“He did admit to the conduct for what he was found guilty for, which was the second-degree assault charge,” Hardesty said.
Reed confirmed that he takes full responsibility for his actions.
“It might seem like I’m not taking responsibility, but I am,” he said. “I understand the severity of the situation.”
Last year, Reed was convicted and sentenced to 1-3 years in prison for his first-degree criminal contempt charge (a felony) in Onondaga County Court. Despite successfully being on parole from his sentencing in Onondaga County, county judge Julie Campbell officially listed Reed as a second felony offender.
Campbell told Reed on Thursday that if he is convicted of another felony in the future, he could be listed as a “persistent felony offender,” which could potentially lead to a life sentence.
According to court documents, Reed’s criminal history dates back to 2007 and has been “extensive.”
Reed’s previous offenses include robbery, assault, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated offenses, criminal mischief, criminal contempt and more. Campbell noted Reed has two active warrants in the cities of Syracuse and Auburn for unspecified charges.
According to court documents and before his plea agreement in August, Reed was indicted in Cortland County Court in July for his charges of first-degree rape, attempted first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree assault, second-degree strangulation, first-degree unlawful imprisonment (all felonies); and second-degree menacing (a misdemeanor).
Reed’s original first-degree rape charge would have carried a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and 25 years of post-release supervision.
Reed will not appeal the sentencing he received in Cortland County Court on Thursday.
