A former University student convicted of raping a fellow University student 20 years ago will be released after serving only six months of his 18-month prison sentence. The Virginia Department of Corrections granted convicted rapist William Beebe a mandatory release date of Sept. 17, according to department spokesperson Larry Traylor. Beebe was found guilty of the aggravated sexual battery of Elizabeth Seccuro and was sentenced to his prison term in March. Commonwealth Attorney Dave Chapman said he is surprised by the early release, though he said he was aware Beebe could be released after serving only one-third of his sentence. "It is sooner than we expected," Chapman said. "It's surprising and disappointing. We expected that the actual sentence would be longer in terms of its actual length." The incident between Beebe and Seccuro occurred at a Phi Kappa Psi rush event in 1984. Seccuro testified in March of last year that she was given a "pale green" drink. After drinking it, she said her limbs became immobilized and Beebe took her to a room in the fraternity house and raped her. The case resurfaced last year after Beebe, who never graduated from the University, contacted Seccuro and apologized for any harm he had caused her as part of a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program. Seccuro then decided to press charges, which she had not done at the time of the incident. She claimed the University originally discouraged her from pressing charges. Beebe was indicted on one charge of rape and one charge of object penetration last April. He pleaded guilty to one charge of felonious sexual assault last November. Chapman said Beebe's release date is not determined by the Virginia Parole Board but rather by his good time credit. Inmates acquire good time credit at different rates depending on their classifications, Chapman said. Beebe is receiving 30 days of good time credit for every 30 days he serves, Chapman said, adding that Beebe's classification as a high-security prisoner offers the most liberal accrual of credit. The Commonwealth abolished parole for all crimes committed after 1994. But because the crime was committed before this deadline, Beebe is eligible for parole no later than six months before the termination of his sentence. Chapman explained the maximum an offender with an 18-month sentence would have served is 12 months. Chapman said he and his office are currently reviewing Beebe's release date, though he pointed out that Seccuro cannot appeal to a parole board because Beebe never had a parole hearing. "We'll take appropriate action," Chapman said. "We are looking into the matter and making sure that the correct rate of accrual of good time credit has been applied in his case." Traylor said the Virginia Department of Corrections would not discuss any further details of Beebe's parole. Beebe's lawyer, Rhonda Quagliana, did not respond to several calls seeking comment for this story.
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