Victim reflects as Arkansas abuser released on parole

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – A victim in a groundbreaking Arkansas rape case is opening up after her tormentor was granted probation.

More than 25 years ago, a jury found Len Yates guilty of drug rape of women, making him one of the first men to be charged and convicted of taking the date rape drug known as roofies.

Stacey Bullard was one of the women he sexually abused. We first spoke to her three years ago when she learned Yates was up for parole.

Since then, she has fought to keep him behind bars to protect herself and other women. Now she is preparing for his release.

“I’m OK, but I’ll have my moments,” Bullard said. “I had a panic attack last night in the middle of Walmart. I’m a little scared.”

Bullard has been fighting for justice since she was raped 27 years ago.

It was Labor Day weekend in 1997 when she went out with a friend and met Len Yates.

She said he offered to take her for a drink at the Canon Grill, but that was her last memory before she woke up in his house.

When Bullard was examined for rape, toxicologists found Rohypnol, commonly known as roofies, in her system.

Stacey soon realized she was not alone. Len Yates was sentenced to 35 years in prison for multiple rapes after more women came forward. He was one of the first people in Arkansas to be charged with drugging their victims.

“It’s really hard,” Bullard said. “I’ll be a survivor again, but not now.”

It was a day she didn’t want to come – the day he was supposed to be released from prison.

She is fighting alongside other victims to keep her abuser behind bars, but she says this time the parole hearing was different.

“I had a funny feeling… it wasn’t the same,” Bullard said. “I knew right away they were going to let him out.”

Conditions of Yates’ probation include registering as a sex offender and having no contact with his victims.

“I just want to thank the parole board for letting him stay here as long as he did,” Bullard said. “His application has been denied twice before, so I want to thank them for that.”

The parole board will set Yates’ release date in about 10 days. In the meantime, Stacey said she is doing everything she can to stay calm and healthy.