Detroit, MI - On Monday, March 4, 2024, Robert Yarbrough, 58, currently incarcerated in state prison and last residing in Detroit, was re-sentenced in the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County to serve 50-100 years’ incarceration for repeatedly raping and assaulting a Detroit woman he held captive for over 20 hours in December 2017, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
“I am thankful for the efforts of the prosecutors in my office for their commitment to pursuing justice in this matter,” said Nessel. “This man’s crimes caused deep emotional wounds beyond the assault, and I am grateful for the victim’s courage that ultimately allowed him to be held accountable.”
Yarbrough was sentenced Monday as follows:
- Three counts First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct – 50-100 years’ incarceration;
- One count Kidnapping – 50-100 years’ incarceration;
- One count Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm – 25-50 years’ incarceration; and
- One count Felonious Assault – 5-15 years’ incarceration.
In December 2017, Yarbrough kidnapped the victim and held her captive in a vacant house for more than 20 hours, brutally assaulting, strangling, torturing, and raping the Detroit woman repeatedly. During a brief instance when Yarbrough left the house, the victim was able to free herself and ran for medical attention, obtaining a sexual assault kit that yielded Yarbrough’s DNA. Yarbrough was convicted of six felonies and sentenced in December of 2018.
The Michigan Supreme Court ordered a re-trial of Yarbrough’s convictions predicated on a mistake made by the 2018 trial judge. Last year, the Michigan Supreme Court ordered a new trial finding a technical violation by the original trial judge during jury selection.