Idaho jury finds California man guilty of 2014 rape in Boise

More than five years after an arrest warrant was issued, a 58-year-old man was found guilty of rape in an Ada County courtroom this week.

Reginald Burley, who was 53 when he committed the crime, was convicted by a jury Thursday of raping an adult woman at her Boise residence in December 2014, according to a news release from the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. The victim escaped after the attack and sought help immediately, the release said.

Burley was found not guilty on a first-degree kidnapping charge.

A rape conviction is punishable by up to life in prison. Burley’s sentencing is scheduled for 4 p.m. on March 17.

“I appreciate the victim having the courage to come forward,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan M. Bennetts in the release. “I also want to thank the jury for their time and attention in this case and the Boise Police Department for their hard work on a case that took several years to bring to trial.”

Burley was indicted by a grand jury in Boise shortly after the victim reported the sexual assault to law enforcement. Before he could be apprehended here, he was arrested in California, his home state, in January 2015 on a parole violation, the news release said. He was arrested in California again in December 2015 and pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping of a victim under the age of 14, delaying his extradition to Ada County to face trial.

Need help?

The Faces of Hope Victim Center Victim Center is available for victims in need of emergency services at 417 S. 6th St. in Boise. Victims should call 911 in emergencies or call 208-577-4400 on weekdays during business hours. Faces of Hope provides free medical care and forensic examinations for victims as well as assistance with filing police reports and mental health care.

Survivors who may need help are also encouraged to contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

The Boise Women’s and Children’s Alliance can be reached locally at 208-345-7273.