Man sentenced to life in prison for rape and mutilation in Orange County

A man convicted of the rape and attempted murder of a woman in Pine Hills was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday and is requesting to be allowed to live in a solitary cell for his own safety.

Bruce Whitehead, 55, was found guilty last week of sexual assault, attempted murder, armed kidnapping, robbery and aggravated assault following a 2022 incident involving a woman he picked up at an Oak Ridge strip club.

Whitehead forced the woman, who testified last week, out of the car into a wooded area at knifepoint. He raped the woman and attempted to stab her.

According to an affidavit, Whitehead asked another inmate to “take care of” the woman earlier this year, apparently to prevent his prosecution.

On Tuesday, his lawyer said Whitehead had received death threats and asked District Court Judge Diego Madrigal III if he could be isolated in jail.

Madrigal said he had no authority to help Whitehead, who refused to speak Tuesday until his attorney asked him to.

“What can I say?” said Whitehead. “It is what it is.”

Madrigal began the sentencing by thanking Whitehead for his good behavior throughout the trial. However, he detailed Whitehead’s history of sexual abuse – including previous convictions – and called his actions heinous, cruel and evil.

“Maybe you thought you were picking some vulnerable women when you were choosing your victims,” ​​Madrigal said. “These are not vulnerable women. These are strong women.”

Whitehead has been a registered sex offender since 1987, when he was convicted of kidnapping and sexual abuse in Duval County.

He spent 20 years in prison and was released in May 2022. Six months later, he attacked the Pine Hills woman.

“The members of this community deserve to feel safe,” Madrigal said. “The women of this community deserve to feel safe.”

Whitehead faces life in prison on four counts, including sexual assault, attempted murder, armed kidnapping and robbery. He was fined $55,000 and has 30 days to appeal the verdict.