VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A man found guilty of raping a Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) student was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in prison, the Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney announced.
On April 28, 2022, prosecutors say 29-year-old Daniel Adams falsely claimed to be a 23-year-old Harvard student when he met a VWU student at a cookout on campus and began communicating with her over social media. The two later attended the same party before going back to the victim's house where Adams "forcefully sexually assaulted her while holding her hands above her head and choking her," according to prosecutors.
The victim reported the incident to a friend over the phone immediately after it happened and then again the following day to a counselor who encouraged her to have a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) completed.
The SANE revealed bruising and redness on the victim's body, along with confirming fluid collected from the victim's body matched the Adams' DNA, officials said.
When Adams was arrested on Jan. 30, 2023, authorities say he denied having sexual intercourse with the victim.
Following his arrest, two more victims accused Adams of sexually assaulting them, according to prosecutors, who noted those victims' cases were not prosecuted but their testimonies were heard during Wednesday's sentencing.