Virginia Beach, Va. - A Virginia Beach man has been found guilty of rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, abduction, strangulation and providing a false ID to police.
The jury has recommended three life terms plus 26 years in prison for 59-year-old Lawrence Anthony Norfleet.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that in July 2012, Norfleet attempted to befriend a Taiwanese young woman who was visiting Virginia Beach as part of a work-study program.
Norfleet interacted with the woman at least three times in July 2012 while she was bicycling to and from work.
On July 20, 2012, he followed her to a CVS pharmacy and offered to watch her bike while she went inside.
Norfleet was waiting for the woman when she got off work that evening. It was raining and he told her to go down a side street behind a vacant building as a “short cut.”
There, he repeatedly sexually assaulted her, beat her, and strangled her. At one point it appeared that he would let her go, but he then dragged her further off the roadway.
He then wiped off her bike and glasses and told her that if she reported the attack, no one would believe her because of her nationality.
Police began looking for Norfleet based on the victim’s description of Norfleet and his bike.
On July 23, 2012, an officer encountered a man matching the description. Norfleet gave him a false name and date of birth before going on his way.
Approximately an hour later, another officer again encountered a man matching the description. When he attempted to stop Norfleet, Norfleet fled, cutting through parking lots, abandoning his bike, and jumping a fence.
When he was caught in the woods, Norfleet refused to identify himself.
The victim identified Norfleet in a photo lineup. Further, video from CVS Pharmacy shows Norfleet and his bike outside the store on the morning of the attack.
Norfleet has prior convictions for Sexual Battery (3 counts), Assault and Battery of a Child under 14, Robbery, Burglary, Stalking, and Assault and Battery (2 counts).
Previous stories:
Man indicted on rape and forcible sodomy charges in Virginia Beach
Man accused of sexually assaulting Beach woman a repeat offender
Man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting woman in Beach
