CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Kanawha County jury convicted an Elkview man Wednesday of kidnapping and raping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint.

Kerry Lee Johnson, 53, now faces life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Duke Bloom on Dec. 18.

The jury deliberated for more than three hours before returning its verdict, which included finding Johnson guilty of breaking and entering and three counts of second-degree sexual assault.

The victim hugged Kanawha County assistant prosecutors Dan Holstein and Stewart Altmeyer after the verdict was announced.

Johnson sat quietly at the defense table with his hand covering his mouth, and turned to stare at the victim in the gallery several times.

During the trial, the victim tearfully told the jury that Johnson had crept into her home and sexually assaulted her on June 11. She and Johnson both worked as coal truck drivers for Medford Trucking, and had dated in the past, she said.

But he reacted badly after she ended the relationship, and constantly called her cell phone and drove past her house and harassed her over CB radio, she said.

On the night of the assault, Johnson cut her phone line and forced her to strip naked before duct-taping her mouth, wrists and ankles, she said.

Eventually, he freed her, and she was able to use her cell phone to dial 911 as he dozed in a recliner, she said.

Johnson, who was represented by Kanawha County assistant public defenders Rick Holicker and Katherine Kessell, did not testify during the three-day trial.

The defense maintained that the sex on June 11 was consensual, and that the victim fabricated the assault.

The kidnapping conviction came with a recommendation of mercy, which means that Johnson will be eligible for parole after 10 years. However, they also found that he had committed the crime with a gun, which will enhance his minimum sentence.

Court records indicate that the victim took out an emergency domestic violence protective order against Johnson in April, just two months before the assault.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Kanawha County jury convicted an Elkview man Wednesday of kidnapping and raping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint.

Kerry Lee Johnson, 53, now faces life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Duke Bloom on Dec. 18.

The jury deliberated for more than three hours before returning its verdict, which included finding Johnson guilty of breaking and entering and three counts of second-degree sexual assault.

The victim hugged Kanawha County assistant prosecutors Dan Holstein and Stewart Altmeyer after the verdict was announced.

Johnson sat quietly at the defense table with his hand covering his mouth, and turned to stare at the victim in the gallery several times.

During the trial, the victim tearfully told the jury that Johnson had crept into her home and sexually assaulted her on June 11. She and Johnson both worked as coal truck drivers for Medford Trucking, and had dated in the past, she said.

But he reacted badly after she ended the relationship, and constantly called her cell phone and drove past her house and harassed her over CB radio, she said.

On the night of the assault, Johnson cut her phone line and forced her to strip naked before duct-taping her mouth, wrists and ankles, she said.

Eventually, he freed her, and she was able to use her cell phone to dial 911 as he dozed in a recliner, she said.

Johnson, who was represented by Kanawha County assistant public defenders Rick Holicker and Katherine Kessell, did not testify during the three-day trial.

The defense maintained that the sex on June 11 was consensual, and that the victim fabricated the assault.

The kidnapping conviction came with a recommendation of mercy, which means that Johnson will be eligible for parole after 10 years. However, they also found that he had committed the crime with a gun, which will enhance his minimum sentence.

Court records indicate that the victim took out an emergency domestic violence protective order against Johnson in April, just two months before the assault.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.