Dothan's alleged serial rapist convicted

A Houston County jury returned with straight guilty verdicts against Michael Handsford Wednesday afternoon.

Handsford, 23, faced six class A felony crimes, including two felony counts of first-degree rape, two felony counts of first-degree sodomy and two felony counts of first-degree burglary. The jury returned after less than 45 minutes of deliberation with six guilty verdicts.

Circuit Court Judge Brad Mendheim said he would sentence Handsford on May 3, after the defendant's attorney, Tom Brantley, asked for separate sentencing hearing.

Earlier in the day Phyllis Rollan, a forensic biologist with the state Department of Forensic Sciences, said DNA taken from Handsford matched that of two samples tested in two unsolved rape and sodomy cases.

“With a high degree confidence Michael Handsford or his identical twin is the source of the semen from the interior of the condom,” Rollin said.

Rollan testified Wednesday for the prosecution as part of the criminal trial involving multiple sexual assault charges filed against Handsford. The jury has deliberated the charges in the case against Handsford for about 30 minutes.

Dothan police arrested Handsford, 23, in April 2009. Police charged Handsford with more than two dozen sexual assault related crimes to also include kidnapping, robbery and burglary. He was charged with sexually assaulting eight Wiregrass women over a two-year period.

Jurors heard evidence for the second day in front of Circuit Court Judge Brad Mendheim on six of the charges filed against Handsford from allegations made by two of the victims. Handsford is on trial for two felony counts of first-degree rape, two felony counts of first-degree sodomy and two felony counts of first-degree burglary.

Attorney Tom Brantley, who represented Handsford, said his client would’ve testified in his own defense claiming the sex acts were consentual. But Brantley said his client declined because the court would’ve allowed all the other alleged victims to testify about what happened to them.

Closing arguments

District Attorney Doug Valeska argued that there was no issue of consent involved in the charges filed against Handsford because there was a DNA match in the case.

“These women were raped and terrorized in their own home, in their own castle,” Valeska said. “It took two years to find this rapist, this sodomizer and this rapist. Science don’t lie that it’s Michael Handsford.”

Valeska also told jurors Handsford made a mistake when he left a used condom on the floor of one of the victim’s apartments.

“Do the right thing, speak loudly, speak truthfully and speak justice for these victims,” Valeska said. “Send a loud message you can’t rape, sodomize and burglarize women in your community.”

Brantley suggested one of the rape and sodomy victims owned three to four cell phones to run a prostitution business.

“The rape was fabricated,” Brantley said. “The sex occurred but the rape was fabricated.”

Brantley also called the victim an irresponsible woman who suffered from bi-polar and admittedly drank “shooters” of vodka.

“I’m telling you the truth. The truth is stranger than fiction,” Brantley said. “Michael Handsford is not an angel, but neither are these two ladies.”