NEWS
76-year sentence for rapist
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by Darryl Schnell
Friday, September 30, 2005
The man found guilty of two sexual assaults before the Fall 2004 semester began was sentenced Wednesday to more than 76 years in prison. Johnny Brown was charged and found guilty on six different felonies, including sexual assault, burglary and armed robbery, according to Consolidated Court Automation Programs.
Brown attacked and sexually assaulted a University of Wisconsin female student in the basement of her apartment on Randall Street last summer. The victim went to the basement to get her bike when she encountered the attacker.
According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, Brown's attack led to the implementation of the City of Madison lock ordinance. The ordinance requires Madison landlords to put locks on all exterior doors as well as basements and laundry rooms in order to help prevent future attacks on tenants.
"This very tragic attack and sexual assault inspired the lock ordinance the common council adopted late last year," Verveer said. "It's just a tragedy someone endured this attack to draw our attention to a major loophole in the city's building codes."
Verveer, who cosponsored the lock ordinance with Ald. Judy Olson, District 6, said City of Madison alders backed the ordinance strongly and approved it unanimously. However, landlords were not on the bandwagon from the start.
"The ordinance was initially not warmly received by many landlords," Verveer said. "Many argued the cost of the locks would be too expensive and tenants would rarely utilize them."
However, upon seeing the political support for the ordinance and realizing the importance of protecting their tenants, landlords changed their view of the ordinance, Verveer added.
"I think anything we can do to improve the personal safety of our citizens is something we should do," Verveer said. "You can't put a price tag on an individual's personal safety."
UW senior Danny Michuda said the lock ordinance is a necessary safety precaution for students.
"It sucks that it took a violent attack like the one last year," Michuda said. "But I know we lock all our doors every night. I'm just glad it's a requirement that landlords provide locks for all their doors."
According to Verveer, the vast majority of landlords are in compliance with the ordinance. He said he encourages tenants without locks on all their doors to speak with their landlords and, if necessary, with City of Madison Building Inspectors.
