The jury has returned a guilty verdict in a trial for a man accused of raping a senior woman at an assisted-living center in New Market.

Thomas Neil Elliot III was found guilty of one felony rape charge from an attack in late February. The jury began deliberating around 8 p.m., and announced they had reached a verdict around 9:40 p.m.

The jury deliberated once again to determine the punishment for the charge, and they recommended seven years in prison.

Elliot's attorney Charles Ramsey motioned for his client to undergo mental and sexual abnormality evaluations before the sentencing. His request was granted by Judge Dennis L. Hupp.

The victim in the case is a 66-year-old mentally-disabled woman who lived at Shenandoah Valley Village.

The judge deemed her competent to testify Wednesday, and she described the details for a half an hour.

Before that, the New Market police chief testified that no physical evidence recovery kit was used in the case, because he thought too much time had passed since the incident. Elliot's attorney repeatedly tried to emphasize that point.

During opening statements Wednesday, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Kenneth Alger said, "She went through what a lot of rape victims go through. That's the aftermath, and that's probably the worst part."

Defense Attorney Charles Ramsey countered by saying "There's no confession, there's no videotape, there's no DNA."

Meanwhile, a second suspect, Zachary Acome, who was expected to enter a plea to an attempted rape charge after Elliot's trial, will be back in court next week.