Lawrence man to serve more than 12 years in prison for rape after probation revocation

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that probation was revoked for Ray C. Atkins Jr., 24, of Lawrence, who was convicted of rape by a jury in August 2022.

Judge James Fleetwood had suspended Atkins’ 155-month prison sentence following Atkins’ conviction of raping a 17-year-old woman at a Lawrence residence. The court then placed Atkins on probation for 60 months for the 2019 rape. The District Attorney’s Office appealed the suspended sentence.

After failing to adhere to the terms and conditions of probation, the District Attorney’s Office petitioned to revoke Atkins’ probation. Pro Tem Judge Blake Glover granted the State’s motion Monday and sentenced Atkins to 155 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. Atkins has 525 days jail credit.

“The brave survivor and her loved ones truly stayed the course,” District Attorney Valdez said. “Today, they finally received justice.”

Atkins must serve lifetime post-release supervision and register as a sex offender for life.

The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department, the Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.