Serial rapist Ikeie Smith sentenced to 55 to 80 years for crimes spanning across Metro Detroit

Cases date back to 2011

DETROIT – Serial rapist Ikeie Smith was sentencing Thursday after pleading guilty to a series of sexual assaults across Metro Detroit.

Smith, 32, of Redford Township, was facing multiple charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree home invasion and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to all charges after four full days of testimony.

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Smith was sentenced to 55 to 80 years in prison.

Smith was linked to assaults in Allen Park, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Inkster and Redford Township dating back to 2011.

Smith pleaded guilty to all the charges after listening to testimony from his victims. It is unclear what defense Smith had planned as he pleaded before the prosecution rested.

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"This case underscores the critical importance for sharing information and technology on a regional basis," Dearborn police Chief Ronald Haddad said. "This predator victimized our region for over 5 years until law enforcement at all levels, local, state and federal pooled their resources to bring him to justice. We stand committed to working with our regional partners to keep Southeast Michigan safe."

Sentencing hearing

Before victims read their impact statements, Smith addressed a motion he made to withdraw his guilty pleas because he didn’t realize the time he would need to serve.

The judge told him that those sentencing guidelines were read to him during the trial and went back to the court reporter’s record to see that he was made aware of the sentencing possibilities. The motion was denied.

Three of Smith’s victims spoke at the sentencing. A husband of one of the victim’s also spoke at the hearing. The prosecutor read two impact statements.

“I want him to go through the fear that all of us went through,” one of the victims said at sentencing.

The prosecutor asked the judge to exceed the sentencing guidelines. She played an audio recording of an interview with police in which Smith allegedly told authorities he’d been in at least 50 homes.

Another recording of a telephone call with his mother from jail was played for the judge where they described a defense strategy to blame Smith’s behavior on drug use.

“Smith is a predator,” the judge said. “He is a danger to the community. He is a danger to women.”

Smith's sentences will run concurrent. He will spend the next 55 to 80 years in prison.

Before leaving the court room, Smith cursed at the judge.

Details of case

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad addressed the community when Smith was taken into custody, detailing the arrest of the suspected serial rapist and the case against the man.

"I appreciate the public's support and patience while we continue this investigation," Haddad said. "Investigations of this type are complicated and time consuming and, while it is important to notify the public of current events, it is most important that we do not do anything to compromise the investigation."

The chief said a pattern was noticed in home invasions near the border between Dearborn and Allen Park in July 2015. The home invasions involved some sort of completed or attempted sexual assault. Neighboring jurisdictions had received several more incidents which appeared to be similar.

Haddad said at least three of the cases happened in Dearborn.

A multi-jurisdictional task force was created in November 2015 involving police departments in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Allen Park, Redford Township, Inkster and Garden City, as well as the Michigan State Police, FBI, MDOC and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

The FBI behavioral scientists labeled the suspect as a “power reassurance rapist.”

“There’s no more power he holds over the people,” Haddad said. “I can assure you he’ll be in jail for a long time.”

Surveillance video of a suspect in the backyard of a Livonia home helped in naming a person of interest.

“This particular nightmare that has plagued our community and our region for a long time is over,” Haddad said.

Authorities believe there are a minimum of 35 cases in the region they suspect Smith is responsible for.

Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy also spoke at the news conference.

“In our region, law enforcement comes together time and time again without borders,” O’Reilly said. “Crime doesn’t care about boundaries.”

Timeline

The Dearborn Police Department released a timeline of events related to the serial rapes and home invasions across the region. 

Background

According to police, Smith was arrested in connection with a series of home invasions and sexual assaults across the metro area.

Police said the incidents date back to 2011 and involve at least eight jurisdictions.

Smith was taken into custody by Dearborn police within a mile of where a number of the home invasions occurred, police said.

"The arrest of this suspect will hopefully provide closure to our victims and it is important to note that all members of this task force have expended an enormous amount of resources and energy into this investigation," Haddad said. "This collaborative effort along with citizen cooperation has resulted in a very dangerous predator being taken off the streets."

The FBI, MSP, Livonia Police Department, Dearborn Police Department and a number of other police agencies across the metro area participated in the investigation.

Stay with Local 4 and ClickonDetroit.com as more information becomes available.