A Sacramento judge has ordered Graham Matthew O’Connor to spend more than four decades in state prison after a jury found he drugged, restrained and sexually assaulted a woman, crimes prosecutors say he secretly recorded on video the victim later discovered.
Judge Hands Down 41-Year Term
According to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, on July 9 the Honorable Donald Currier sentenced O’Connor, 42, to 41 years and four months in state prison in case number 25FE021828. The DA’s release identifies Deputy District Attorney Jackson Hadden of the Domestic Violence Unit as the prosecutor and notes that aggravating factors were found true at sentencing.
Jurors had already convicted O’Connor in June, setting up what prosecutors described as a decades-long prison term for the Sacramento man.
Guilty Verdicts And Charges
As reported by The Sacramento Bee, a jury on June 9 found O’Connor guilty of two counts of rape by use of drugs and two counts of oral copulation by use of anesthesia or a controlled substance. Prosecutors told jurors the woman was incapacitated and unable to consent during the attacks.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
Per the DA’s news release, the case broke open when the victim discovered video on January 30, 2022, showing O’Connor engaging in sexual acts with her while she was asleep.
Prosecutors said O’Connor tied the woman’s arms, restrained her and then raped and orally copulated her while she was unconscious. They also said he assaulted her again on a separate occasion when she was drugged and unable to resist. According to the DA’s office, those details were central to the evidence presented at trial.
How Prior Conviction Affected Sentencing
State sentencing rules allow qualifying prior felonies to increase prison terms, and California’s Three Strikes framework can add substantial time for repeat offenders. The Judicial Branch’s overview explains how prior serious or violent felonies are used to enhance sentences under Penal Code section 667; see California Courts for background.
Local coverage also noted that prosecutors treated an earlier burglary conviction as a strike, which officials said contributed to the length of O’Connor’s term, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Victim Services And Next Steps
The DA’s office and its community partners provide victim advocates who can assist with safety planning, restraining orders, victim impact statements and applications for state compensation. Local resources and links to the DA’s Victim Services program are compiled at GetHelpSac.
Survivors can contact victim-witness advocates for help navigating the court process and applying for available services.
.jpg){kind=link}