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Bloomingdale Library rapist Kendrick Morris to be resentenced on March 9th

Convicted of raping women in 2007 and 2008
Posted at 9:20 AM, Feb 10, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-10 09:28:46-05

The man convicted of brutally raping a high school senior in 2008 will be resentenced in March.

In 2007, when Morris was just 15 years ago, prosecutors say he entered a Clair-Mel day care center and raped an elderly woman at knifepoint.

Ten months later, Morris attacked 18-year-old Queena Vuong outside the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library. Morris dragged the high school senior behind the library, raped and beat her.

The attack Vuong suffered was so brutal, she suffered brain damage, remains paralyzed and blind, and needs ongoing medical care.

Jurors found Kendrick Morris guilty of raping both women. Circuit Judge Chet A. Tharpe sentenced Morris to 65 years in prison.

An appeals court overturned the sentence. The court cited decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States and the Florida Supreme Court that declared unconstitutional such lengthy prison sentences without a chance of parole for juvenile offenders.

During a hearing on Thursday Judge Tharpe said he needed more time to consider changes in the law before announcing a new sentence for Morris.

Despite the brutality of Morris' crimes, his defense attorneys believe a life in prison is not the right sentence for the now 25-year-old. They say Morris has shown remorse for his crimes and doctors believe he could be rehabilitated.

Judge Tharpe announced he will hand out a new sentence for Morris at a hearing scheduled for March 9.