A judge has sentenced Cory Batey to 15 years in prison following his conviction in the Vanderbilt rape case.
Batey, one of four players charged with raping a woman at Vanderbilt, was convicted in April of aggravated rape, which carried a minimum of 15 years in Tennessee.
Before Judge Monte Watkins handed down the sentence, Batey read a prepared statement in which he said he was "deeply and sincerely sorry.”
Cory Batey now reading prepared statement to court @NC5 pic.twitter.com/KUtfar1E3p
— Jason Lamb (@NC5_JasonLamb) July 15, 2016
He was among several, including the victim, who spoke during the hearing held Friday morning at the Birch building.
The victim took the stand first and said there were "no words to describe the horror of the images from that night.”
Victim sobs as she testifies, and Batey looks on @NC5 pic.twitter.com/tOq1bGFHVO
— Jason Lamb (@NC5_JasonLamb) July 15, 2016
"All I've wanted is for this [case] to be behind me, to be left alone and to try to live my life in peace,” she said.
She was visibly emotional and sobbed throughout much of her testimony as Batey looked on.
Batey's mother, Audrey, also took the stand and said he suffered problems after his father's death in 2004.
"Please have mercy on my son," Audrey Batey said. "Everybody deserves a second chance."
The state had sought the maximum sentence of 25 years, but Watkins ultimately ruled for the minimum and called the case "one of the saddest" he's ever seen.
"This is a serious case, and it's going to affect these young people," he said. "It will hopefully have a positive effect on other individuals who may find themselves with this kind of opportunity to take a step back and say 'well, I'm not going to do that because I know if I do it, I'll go to the penitentiary or shame my family."
Defense attorney Worrick Robinson echoed that sentiment outside of court.
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