Press Release
May 16, 2008

ONEONTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
For Immediate Release


The City of Oneonta Police Department is investigating a reported forcible rape that is alleged to have occurred at approximately 2:30 A.M. on Friday May 16th, 2008. The victim, a 23 year old female college student, stated that she was talking with a male that she had met earlier in the evening. As she started to walk away however, she alleges that the male grabbed her and proceeded to drag her into a wooded area in the City of Oneonta where he held her down and forcibly raped her. The victim reports that she was eventually able to flee from the assailant and contact police. Subsequently, she was transported to A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital by the Oneonta Fire Department where she was treated for injuries received, and later released. Pursuant to an investigation into the incident by the Oneonta Police Department’s Detective Division, a 23 year old male identified as Justin J. Gillingham was arrested and charged with the crime of Rape in the first degree. Mr. Gillingham, a resident of Oneonta, is currently being held at the City of Oneonta Police Department’s lockup pending his arraignment in City Court. Rape in the first degree is a class B Felony, punishable by a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.