West Salem man convicted of holding woman captive for 44 days

DALLAS, Ore. (AP) – A West Salem man has been convicted of kidnapping, sexually abusing and raping a woman for 44 days.
 
The Statesman Journal reports Polk County Judge Norman Hill found Ronnie Lee Jr. guilty Wednesday of 29 counts, which ranged from methamphetamine charges to second-degree kidnapping and first-degree rape, sodomy and unlawful sexual penetration.
 
Lee, 48, was found not guilty on five misdemeanor counts of assault following the two-day trial.
 
Lee was arrested on Oct. 25, 2015, after police discovered a woman being held captive at a home owned by Lee’s then-girlfriend, Irish Boyce.
 
After months of trying to move the trial location outside of Polk County and attempting to dismiss evidence, Lee waived his right to a jury trial and chose instead to face a trial by judge.
 
His sentencing is set for next week.
 
Prosecutors say the 31-year-victim was held for six weeks by Lee after she visited his residence in an attempt to get heroin in 2015.
 
The victim says she was raped, assaulted and sodomized dozens of times. She was forced to sleep on the bathroom floor and given very little food.
 
Lee’s attorney Mark Brownlee disputed the victim’s account, claiming the context of the events occurred in the “drug world.”
 
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Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com