A California Navy veteran who was convicted of raping two women he met online was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison on Friday, after accusing the victims of engaging in a "he-said-she-said" smear campaign over which he reportedly showed no remorse. Sean Banks, who was charged with raping and burglarizing women he met on dating sites Christian Mingle and Match.com, maintained his innocence until the end of the trial, when he recited what he called his "favorite" Bible verse for his accusers, NBC San Diego reports:
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good," Banks said, noting he would drop his appeal if one of the victims passed a polygraph test.
Banks' words apparently didn't put him in good graces with the judge, who gave him the high end of the sentencing range and denied him probation. A restraining order also will bar Banks from the two victims for 10 years.
In handing down his sentence, Judge Daniel Goldstein expressed dismay that Banks continues to portray an innocent facade and has shown no remorse for his actions. The judge also said he believed the two women gave truthful accounts of the rapes -- which Banks had argued were untruthful.
"He has so much hatred toward women," the judge said, referring to Banks' interview with investigators, where he laid blame on the victims.
One of Banks' accusers, who was identified only as K.K., implored Goldstein to give the defendant the maximum sentence last week, adding that she is still healing from the attack that occurred in her home in late 2012. "Crime became a reality for me that night," she said. "I learned surviving rape can make you feel dead inside. ... I don't want Sean to ever have the opportunity to physically, sexually or emotionally hurt another female."
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