A 19-year-old who has been incarcerated for attacking a female jogger has written multiple letters to a judge claiming he is being held for something he “didn’t do” and asking for a “second chance.”
William Paul Stamper was arrested on Tuesday, September 20, less than 24 hours after allegedly attacking a woman who was jogging in the area of West Wekiva Trail and Harrogate Place.
Over the past week, Stamper has written two letters to Judge William S. Orth regarding the incident, professing his innocence and asking for any potential sentence to be replaced with serving time in the army.
“I’m being held for something I didn’t do…I’ve never been in trouble before. I did not get read my Miranda rights while they arrested me, and they did not tell me what I was being arrested for,” said Stamper in his first letter, which was submitted into court records on December 7.
“The crime they are putting on me, I would never ever even think about committing, my whole family can testify on my behalf,” reads the letter.
In the first letter, Stamper says he “ran into the woman” and that while they were “falling to the ground,” he tried to “hold onto her from falling.” He claims that his mouth was open when he fell on top of her and that’s why she had “teeth marks” on her back. Furthermore, he says that an “erection” was actually a “smoke vape pen.”
“She then screamed for help asking to call 911. I said I’m sorry which I don’t think she heard. She screamed again. I panicked and ran the other direction, which now I see made me look guilty” said Stamper in the letter.
Stamper goes on to ask if he may “give the female a letter explaining what happened and apologize.”
The details of the original arrest report filed by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office paint a different picture. The report indicates that the female victim was jogging on Monday, September 19, at around 8:40 p.m. when she was approached from behind by Stamper.
During the incident, the report indicates that the woman realized she was being followed before she decided to stop jogging and began walking. She said she did so out of fear that she would be tired in the event that Stamper was “attempting to do something to her.”
As she walked, Stamper quickened his pace until she was grabbed from behind with both of his arms. The victim yelled, “who are you, get off of me,” before Stamper replied “shut the [expletive] up [expletive].”
The report indicates that Stamper was “humping [the victim] by thrusting his pelvis into her body” and that during the motion, the victim could feel that Stamper had “an erect penis.” Stamper then bit the victim and left a clear bite mark on her skin.
As the victim and Stamper were struggling on the ground, the woman screamed for help until a nearby neighbor heard the cries for help and called 911. After Stamper heard the neighbor answer the screams from the victim, he fled the scene on foot.
During their investigation, police found a Sonny’s BBQ hat that Stamper was wearing before the incident. That hat led police to a local Sonny’s BBQ location and they were later able to determine that Stamper worked there.
In a second letter written to the judge this week, Stamper took a different tone and indicated that he has “been enlightened” during his stay at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County.
“This was really an eye opener. Thankfully I’m young enough to realize this is not the route I want for myself,” said Stamper in his second letter. “If there’s a thing called a second chance, I’m begging you for it. I graceously ask if you can somehow see as if I can get my life back on track to joining the army.”
Stamper went on to say that he would “rather serve my country” than “serve time and let my life slip by.”
“I just need help. A lot of prayers brought me to this point of having the courage to write you. Please, please help me,” reads the letter.
Stamper is being charged with attempted sexual assault, false imprisonment, and felony battery. He case is next scheduled for a docket sounding on January 25, 2023, according to court records.
Orlando-News.com has included a complete copy of each letter below.
