BY NANCY DRURY DUNCAN, Eastern Shore Post —
An Onancock man will spend nearly 20 years in prison for a violent, drug-fueled attack on a woman he knew from church and who was a family friend.
Norris Ray Beasley, 33, was sentenced to 50 years, with all but 19 years, nine months suspended, for abduction.
The sentencing was given by Circuit Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr.
Beasley also received 10 years for attempted sodomy and 12 months for assault and battery, with all sentences to run concurrently.
Upon release, he will be on supervised probation for 10 years and must maintain good behavior for 15 years.
In August 2022, Beasley called the woman and asked to come and talk to her. She agreed, she said, knowing he had many difficulties in his life.
On the witness stand, the woman, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and walked with great difficulty using a cane, said he arrived at about 6:30 p.m. She said they talked.
She recalled telling him she was having a very difficult time as a result of the disease. She said he twice asked to use the bathroom.
Upon returning the second time, he had his pants unzipped and belt unbuckled, asking for oral sex.
When she refused, she said he became aggressive, grabbing her by her hair, attempting to remove her shirt and knocking her to the floor.
She testified that Beasley first tried to silence her by putting his hand over her mouth and then by stuffing her mouth with cotton batting. He locked the door to prevent her escape, she said.
After a time, she was able to flee onto a screened porch where he could not get to her.
He finally left, warning her not to tell anyone about what he had done.
She said Beasley began calling her and sending text messages soon after the attack. She said she did not respond and called police.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan told the court the woman asked to come to Beasley’s sentencing to tell her harrowing story.
“God wanted me to shine a light in the darkness,” she told the court, explaining why she chose to present what was clearly difficult testimony.
Morgan said the terrible nature of the attack was better revealed in her testimony than it would have been if the story was read from paper by someone else.
She described the lasting impact of the attack, saying her Parkinson’s symptoms had greatly worsened and that she was fearful all the time, even while walking her dog in her yard.
Defense attorney Patrick Bales asked for a light sentence, saying Beasley was a different man when not under the influence of drugs.
