A Warsaw man will serve 21 years in prison for raping, threatening and battering a person multiple times during a week-long time frame.
Patrick A. Bollinger, 23, Warsaw, was charged with three counts of rape, all level 3 felonies; intimidation and two counts of domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, all level 6 felonies. Nine additional criminal charges were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Bollinger was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court I on Thursday.
For each count of rape, Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Bollinger to 14 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. With each charge, seven years will be served in prison, two years are suspended on formal probation and five years are suspended time. All three rape charges will be served consecutively.
Bollinger also received two-year DOC sentences for the intimidation and domestic battery charges, with all three to be served consecutively but concurrently to the rape charges.
In total, Bollinger received a 42-year sentence, with 21 years executed, six years on probation, and 15 years suspended time.
Bollinger must also register as a sex offender. A no-contact order between Bollinger and the victim remains in effect. This sentence will also be served consecutively to a separate criminal case.
The victim and their family, as well as Bollinger's family, attended the sentencing.
During Bollinger's sentencing, the victim provided a statement, focusing on Bollinger getting treatment while in prison.
"I was prepared to sit here and talk about how much I hate Patrick, but that's not the case," said the victim. "Patrick forced himself on me multiple times and throughout all of this, he has shown little to no remorse. He deserves consequences and I hope while in prison, he gets the help he needs. I felt dehumanized and scared to leave my home."
The victim recalled suffering a concussion, contusions and neurological damage as a result of Bollinger's actions. They also said they used a fake name to get groceries delivered to their home in fear Bollinger or someone he knew would come to their residence.
"(The victim) was victimized over and over again, viciously and repeatedly," said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek. "Patrick has shown the world who he is and his behavior is a monstrosity."
Defense attorney Jay Rigdon emphasized the importance of Bollinger receiving help with his mental health and substance abuse during his time in prison.
"(Patrick) is recognizing his punishment and wants to resolve his issues," said Rigdon.
"No apology I can make is going to change what happened," said Bollinger.
Bollinger apologized to the victim, along with their family and friends, as well as his own family for his actions.
On June 22, 2022, a Warsaw Police officer spoke with a person who recounted graphic incidents of battery and sexual assault involving Bollinger. The officer noticed a healing bruise on the person's wrist, and the person said they experienced significant pain for several days following Bollinger's multiple assaults. The person was formally interviewed at the Warsaw Police Department.
According to court documents, the person said on June 5, 2022, Bollinger told them he was spending time with a woman. When the person told Bollinger they didn't want to be around him anymore, Bollinger became angry and took their phone. He also told the person he would kill himself if they tried to call anyone.
On June 6, 2022, Bollinger allowed the person to go to work. They said they didn't tell anyone about Bollinger's conduct because they were scared he would kill himself. Later that day, Bollinger took the person's phone and again expressed suicidal thoughts. They went to bed since they could not call anyone or leave the home. The person later awakened to find Bollinger having sexual intercourse with them.
In their interview, the person said Bollinger sexually assaulted them multiple times between June 6 and 13, 2022. During that period of time, Bollinger repeatedly threatened to kill himself if the person reported the abuse to anyone.
On June 7, 2022, Bollinger sexually assaulted the person multiple times and expressed suicidal thoughts. He became violent, punching the person several times in the head and throwing them to the floor.
On June 8, 2022, Bollinger allowed the person to go to work but squeezed their face, leaving finger welts on both of their cheeks. He again sexually assaulted them that day and slapped them in the face and head.
On June 9, 2022, Bollinger saw a text on the person's phone from a co-worker, who was asking if everything was okay. Bollinger grabbed the person and threw them onto a bed, causing their head to hit a wall.
On June 13, 2022, Bollinger again forcibly had sexual intercourse with the person, who begged Bollinger to check himself into a mental health center. Upon returning to the residence, the person found a note on a bedroom door from Bollinger, who wrote that he killed himself. Law enforcement responded to the scene and found Bollinger had taken 14 Trazodone pills.
During the ongoing investigation, Bollinger had an active protective order prohibiting him from contacting the person.
In letters from July 2022 written by Bollinger while he was incarcerated at the Kosciusko County Jail, Bollinger admitted to battering, raping and intimidating the person.