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'Stinky rapist' is convicted again

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By TOM BRENNAN

tbrennan@tampatrib.com

Published: November 7, 2009

TAMPA - Convicted rapist Jerrod Pass faces three more life terms after being found guilty Friday in another sexual assault.

It took a Hillsborough County jury about three hours of deliberations stretched over two days to convict Pass of attacking a 37-year-old mother of four in June 2007.

Jurors found Pass guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of armed burglary. He faces life imprisonment on each charge when he is sentenced Nov. 17.

Pass was sentenced to three consecutive life terms after being convicted in June of raping another woman.

Authorities accuse Pass of being a serial rapist who terrorized women in the University of South Florida area during summer 2007. They say he stalked black single mothers. Deputies began calling the suspect the "stinky rapist" after some victims said the assailant had a foul odor.

The victim in this week's trial nodded in affirmation as each guilty verdict was read. Her smile grew to a broad grin.

"I survived," she said afterward. "Now, I can move forward."

The Tampa Tribune does not identify sex crime victims.

Pass didn't testify and his attorneys had no comment.

Jurors waited in the courtroom after being dismissed. They exchanged hugs and handshakes with the victim and prosecutors.

"God bless you," the victim told each one. "Thank you."

The victim testified she had fallen asleep with her baby on her chest after returning from Bible study. She was awakened by a man holding something sharp to her neck. He had a gloved-hand over her mouth and whispered for her to stay quiet and cooperate or he would hurt her and her children, who were asleep in the same living room.

Testimony showed that Pass' DNA was found on the victim and her voter registration card was discovered in a storage unit he rented.

Pass faces nine additional cases. Assistant State Attorney Rita Peters, who prosecuted Pass in his first two trials, said her office hasn't decided whether to proceed with the remaining cases.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698.

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