Even as he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, John Rideout remained defiant — arguing legal points with the judge, accusing the women of fabricating their assaults and dismissing the guilty verdict against him as a “stage production.”
He stated, “The Devil has won here today,” and requested a shorter sentence. “I lost and now I’m asking for some justice in all this.”
Judge Thomas Hart sentenced Rideout on Monday to 25-years imprisonment. He will not be eligible in any way for early release, or alternative programs.
Hart said to Rideout, 65 years old, “You’ll be an extremely old man before you see outside the corrections division.”
Just days after Rideout was found guilty of sodomy by a jury that deliberated for less than an hour, the sentence was delivered.
More:Defendant in 1978 Salem marital rape case found guilty of sodomy
In 1978, Rideout was first charged with rape in front of Greta, their 2-year old daughter, in their North Salem apartment.
He was the first American man to be charged with raping his wife while they were still living together. This story attracted a lot of media attention. Reporters from all over the world flooded the downtown Salem courtroom for the six-day trial. A jury acquitted him.
Rideout was again arrested 40 years later for sexually attacking two women.
It is the Statesman Journal’s policy to not print the names of sexual assault survivors, but both women, Sheila Moxley and Teresa Hern, agreed to be identified.
In 2017, a Marion County jury found Rideout guilty in first-degree rape, and first degree sodomy. and the judge sentenced him to 16 years and eight months in prison. Moxley, Rideout’s acquaintance, and Hern who was once with Rideout testified together during the trial.
Rideout was granted a new trial because of the non-unanimous sodomy verdict. In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that such convictions were unconstitutional.
Oregon has allowed split-jury verdicts in felonies like assault, manslaughter, and rape for many decades. Due to the Supreme Court’s decision, these verdicts were unjust. This has led to scores of Oregon cases being retried, including Rideout.
The court decision means that cases from years ago will be retried and that victims will have to testify in court.
Vindication for survivors
Hern claimed that she felt anxious about the second trial. She had to testify before a jury and repeat details about her relationship and assault with Rideout and the effects it had on her emotional and physical health.
Despite the trauma, she was relieved when the verdict came out.
Hern stated that she hoped that by returning… she would have prevented other women from suffering similar pains ever again.
Hart said Hart was impressed by their courage and confidence. Hart thanked them for returning to court.
He said, “I’m sorry that you had to go through it again.”
Hart sentenced Rideout to 25 years — a longer prison term than the 16-year sentence given following the 2017 trial. Because Moxley’s murder and Hern’s assault on Hern were both part of a criminal pattern, Hart received a longer prison sentence.
Moxley stated that Hern and she struggle daily with the effects of sexual assaults. Although she was not required to testify in the second trial, Moxley came to support Hern’s cause and gave an impact statement at Rideout’s sentencing.
“You’re still a sexual predator, an rapist and a monster. Rideout was told by her that this would never change. “I am not a victim, I am a survivor,” she said.
After Hart had handed down his sentence, Rideout sobbed and hugged Hart. Rideout was taken away in handcuffs.
‘All the Way Back to 1978’
Brendan Murphy, the prosecution’s attorney, supported the sentence. She stated Rideout displayed a pattern that targeted and harmed women.
Monday’s testimony by Murphy stated that Rideout’s actions can be traced back “all the way to 1978”, when he didn’t face any legal consequences for raping a woman. Murphy stated that Rideout discovered that consent laws and women’s rights to say “no”, did not apply to his behavior.
Greta was accused by the defense of being promiscuous. She also claimed she was a liar, vindictive, and a liar during her 1978 trial. Her sexual history was examined and cited as evidence that she wasn’t raped.
Greta’s injuries are indicative of “forced intimacy,” according to a doctor. Police stated that she suffered from a black eye. Rideout was also reported to have hit Greta. Numerous witnesses also reported the attack.
Rideout was acquitted by the jury, despite all the evidence.
Although the case was traumatic for decades, the 2017 verdict provided some relief and vindication. Greta said.
“I knew that it would happen again,” she stated. “I’m glad the survivors came forward,” she said.
Greta, a victim of domestic and sexual abuse in her marriage, fled Oregon with her child after the 1978 trial. Rideout was also cut off.
Rideout laughed at Greta’s statements during Monday’s sentencing, saying that he told Greta to run to save his daughter from some unknown danger.
She said that she “knew it would occur again” but what she meant to say was “I knew he’d get set up,” Rideout stated, adding, “I love Greta.”
Rideout turned his back to the judge as he was addressing him. His attorney then directed him away.
Murphy requested a sentence of 25-years. Rideout, Murphy said, was a “poster boy” and that is why the long sentence exists.
Murphy stated that Mr. Rideout has ended the days of telling his victims what they meant to say.
Whitney Woodworth, a reporter for the Statesman Journal, covers economic development, city hall and business. Send an email to get news tips and comments. wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.comCall 503-910-6616 for more information or follow @Twitter @wmwoodworth.
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