Man Convicted Of Beating Up Old Ladies, May Face 90 Years

A 47-year-old Elmhurst resident was convicted of beating up and robbing three women in 2006 and 2007—most notably a 101-year-old woman using a walker and an 85-year-old woman. Jack Rhodes, found guilty of "multiple charges of first-degree burglary, first- and second-degree robbery and second-degree assault," faces between 39 to 90 years in prison.

The reason for the long possible sentence is because attacks on senior citizens are considered hate crimes. As caught on surveillance tape, Rhodes repeatedly punched 101-year-old Rose Morat (pictured) in the face and took her $33 when she was entering her home at Jamaica Estates. Then he robbed 85-year-old Solange Elizee that same day, taking $32 and rings while leaving her with bruises and cuts. The outrage over the crime caused Rhodes to be shadowed while in jail, in case other inmates wanted to hurt him. It also turned out that Rhodes also robbed a third victim, a 51-year-old woman.

Many reporters visited Morat yesterday; the NY Times reports, "Now 103, still vigorous as she greeted reporters on Tuesday, hours before the man accused of attacking her and two other women was convicted of robbery, burglary and assault in State Supreme Court in Queens. 'My only thought is that from what he has done, that he will always be in prison,' she said. 'I just hope he won’t be able to hurt anybody else.'" She said she will be 104 next February, "God willing."

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By Jen Chung in News on October 7, 2009 8:45 AM

Comments [rss]

ANGRYGOD11

Mugger Jack Rhodes is the lowest form of life and I hope he gets AIDS in prison. However, I don't see it as a hate crime. If you are going to rob people, elderly women just are slower, easier targets (and much poorer) than martial arts fighters on steroids.

Jen S

= lazy crime

Jen S

That coward will need to be protected from generations of relatives!

hotstepper

she totally has the eye of the tiger in that photo.

HymietownHero

You seem to be under the mistaken impression that prison, despite the perks of TV and free weights, is a blast. Go on and ask someone who was laid off or just lost their home to foreclosure if they'd rather spend the next few months in lockup, and note the feel of their spittle on your face.

PathToWisdom

If I were unemployed / laid off,

I would do the same.

90 years with a roof over my head

and a shirt on my back,

at the expense of taxpayers.

Wow, what a steal.

Stupid American laws.

Everyone who doesn't have a job should go beat up

old ladies and get 90 years in jail, which means

free food, free tv, free exercise equipment.

Wow, prisoners have rights in America.

ANGRYGOD11

If I were unemployed / laid off I would do anything to avoid years of anal rape, beatings and AIDS in prison. But, maybe you have other, darker interests.