Facebook search for hit man gets rapist 22 years

A Chester County teen whose social networking on Facebook included efforts to find a hit man decided Friday that 11 to 22 years in prison was preferable to risking a steeper sentence at trial.

Corey C. Adams, 19, of West Chester, signed off on a plea agreement on charges that include rape and solicitation to commit murder, the latter so that he could silence the 20-year-old rape victim.

Chester County First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Carmody, who prosecuted the case, praised the victim for coming forward.

"Not only does she have to endure the horror of being raped, but also the fear he caused in seeking a hit man to kill her," Carmody said. "She's very relieved that this ordeal is over."

Adams' attorney, Joseph A. Malley 3d, said that Adams, who "certainly limited the defenses that were available to him" by his public postings, could have faced 35 to 70 years in jail.

"It's a sad case," said Malley. "He's a young man."

The victim told police that she left a party June 29 on South High Street in West Chester after consuming three drinks and feeling nauseous. She said Adams jumped into her car and later raped her.

The woman called West Chester police July 1 and said she had accused Adams of raping her. She also told police she saw a posting on his Facebook page offering $500 for ""a girls head," and feared for her safety.

At the preliminary hearing, West Chester Police Det. Stan Billie testified that he went to Adams' home and that Adams agreed to meet with him at the police station. Less than 10 minutes later, Adams posted a second Facebook message that said he "needed this girl knocked off right now," Billie testified.

The detective said he responded to the posting, and arranged to have another officer play the role of assassin and meet with Adams. That rendezvous did not occur, Billie testified, because Adams wanted to meet with the victim first, an encounter that police tape-recorded.

During a subsequent interview, Billie confronted Adams about the Facebook entry, and Adams gave differing explanations before admitting that he was upset about the rape accusation, Billie testified.

Adams' sentencing by Chester County Court Judge Phyllis R. Streitel will be scheduled after he receives a state evaluation for sexual offenders.