Sentencing Day: Man Convicted in Rapes in Ross Township and Hopewell Learns Fate Tuesday

Arthur Lamont Henderson will be sentenced Tuesday for raping and robbing two women in Ross Township and another in Hopewell township during a three-day period in Jan. of 2012.

The 39 year-old North side man faces the possibility of what would amount to a life sentence when he goes before Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Donna Jo McDaniel. 

The Ross Township rapes were reported Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Woodhawk Club Apartments complex on Johnanna Drive and on Monday, Jan. 9, at the Cascades Apartment complex off Cemetery Lane. 

The Hopewell rape occurred Jan. 7—the same morning as the first attack in Ross. 

Jurors deliberated for less than four hours before returning a verdict on Feb 11, ending an unusual trial in which Henderson acted as his own attorney and cross-examined his victims as well as the police officers that arrested him.

Ross Township Detective Brian Kohlhepp, a witness for the prosecution, has nothing but admiration for the three victims who endured cross-examination by Henderson during the trial.

"They showed such incredible strength and resilience," he said. "Henderson tried to victimize them a second time, and they would have none of it. As the trial went on, they were so supportive of each other.  They shared the same trauma, but were able to face down their attacker in open court."

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