By Bryan Schwartzman
Byron Shelton, 46, of 163-29 130th Ave., was convicted after a two-week trial, said Brown.
The charges stemmed from an incident in April 1999 when the woman ran into Shelton, a part-time window washer, in the elevator of her apartment complex and agreed to let him wash her windows, according to court testimony.
The victim, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was reportedly the oldest rape victim ever to take the stand and testify in Queens. She said in court that once the defendant was in her apartment, he forced her into the bedroom and raped her.
Shelton was arrested a few days later, Brown said.
The defendant did not deny that the two had sexual intercourse, but he told the court that the encounter was consensual. Shelton said the woman asked him to return the next day, but he never went back to the apartment, according to court testimony.
Justice Richard Buchter is to impose the sentence on Jan. 23, Brown said. Shelton faces up to 25 years in prison.
“This was a violent and terribly shameful act perpetrated against an elderly woman,” Brown said. “The victim is to be commended for her willingness to testify despite some serious health concerns and for her cooperation in seeing to it that this predator is punished for this outrageous crime.”
