Rudd Gets Life For Sex Crimes

Convicted of serial rape against child
SEBRING, FL. (July 2, 2004) -- A Highlands County Judge sentenced 46 year
old Wayne Stewart Rudd to life in prison after his conviction of seven
counts of raping a child aged under 12 years old. The rape occured 20 years
ago. Rudd, already a convicted sex offender, will be eligible for parole in
25 years.
The victim, now 27 years old lives in Nebraska and Rudd told the Judge he
had not seen her for 20 years. Evidence in the case came from a controlled
phone call made by the victim to Rudd while Detective John Chess listened
in. Rudd admitted during the call that he had sex with her and blamed
himself adding that he had gone through therapy after a successful
prosecution against him for another sex victim. Rudd was convicted in Lee
county previously for two charges of a lewd act on a child younger than 16.
Rudd had lived in Ft. Myers and has relatives in the Hendry county area.