(CASSOPOLIS) – A Dowagiac man has been found guilty of a crime that was committed last year.

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz says a Circuit Court jury found 58 year old Robert Schmeltz guilty of Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct following two days of testimony. Schmeltz demanded a jury trial.

A 65 year old female home health care worker says that she had been providing weekly support for Schmeltz for several months. She says that on August 26, 2022, she traveled to Schmeltz home as she had many times before. On this date, she says Schmeltz, a 350 pound man, became physically aggressive, holding her down on a bed and forcibly taking off portions of her clothes, then raping her while she plead for him to stop and struggled to escape.

Other witnesses testified that following an examination of the victim a rape did take place. The victim’s supervisor also shared that she reported the rape promptly

Schmeltz testified that that he had sex with the victim, but claimed it was consensual, and that the victim, who was dressed provocatively, came on to him.

The jury deliberated for just over a hour before returning their verdict. Schmeltz is scheduled to be sentenced February 9.