Former death-row inmate found guilty of 1980 rape

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind -- After five hours of deliberation, a Clark County jury convicted a former death-row inmate in a woman's 1980 rape.\nThomas Schiro, whose death sentence was reversed in 1996 for the 1981 rape and murder of Laura Luebbehusen, was found guilty Wednesday of rape and criminal deviate conduct in an unrelated case.\nSchiro, who is serving a 60-year sentence for Luebbehusen's killing, was acquitted of a second rape charge. Both women were raped in the same home in separate attacks in 1980.\nThe 45-year-old Schiro is set to be sentenced Oct. 11. He could face an additional 100 years in prison for the newest conviction.\nSchiro's lawyer, Robert Canada, said his client will appeal.\n"There was no proof beyond a reasonable doubt," Canada said as he left the courthouse.\nIndiana prisoners are eligible for parole after serving half their sentences, a date Schiro would have reached in 2011. Because of time he earned for completing educational courses, Schiro was set to be released Feb. 10, 2007.\nThat prompted Prosecutor Stan Levco to reopen the rape cases.\n"I am very pleased and excited about this verdict for Vanderburgh County not to have Mr. Schiro on the streets," Levco said.\nSchiro was an initial suspect in the two 1980 rapes but was not charged because in 1981 he was convicted of Luebbehusen's murder.