Eastside man faces 100+-year sentence in brutal rape case

John Stonis (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - Jury selection began on Monday for an upcoming trial that could well result in what amounts to a life sentence for a 39-year-old East Rochester man accused of violently raping a 61-year old woman in September 2017.

John Stonis, of 7 Gina Drive, used "superior physical strength" and ignored the victim's pleas to stop during the attack, allegedly telling her at one point, "Spread them or it is going to hurt more," according to court documents.

A 10-count indictment handed down in June 2019 charges Stonis with eight counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault as well as two special class misdemeanors for injuring two Rochester Police officers who tried to restrain him the night of Sept. 30, 2017, after they took him into custody following the alleged attack.

According to an affidavit filed by Rochester Police, officers first responded to 7 Gina Drive for a domestic violence 911 call, with an open line and a female saying, "leave me alone."

When officers arrived they found a naked female standing in the street.

After the victim was given clothing she told officers that the suspect had gotten drunk and wanted to have sex and she didn't.

The victim then said he forced her to the ground, choked her and held her head against the floor saying, "which hole do you want it in." He then "forcibly raped her," the affidavit states.

After the violent encounter, she managed to find her phone, call 911 and escape outdoors.

After officers heard the victim's story and saw visible signs of abuse including red marks on the victim's throat, arms and cheek, they entered the house and questioned Stonis who had little to say. They then arrested him.

The officers' injuries came when they tried to quiet down a belligerent Stonis as he sat in the cruiser and kicked them when they opened the door.

Stonis faces up to 160 years in state prison on eight sex assault charges and two-to-five years on each of the two assaults on the officers.

He also faces a witness tampering charge which was tacked on last September.

Jury selection will continue over the next two weeks with opening arguments expected to begin on Feb. 14.

Stonis is currently being held at Strafford County Jail in Dover.