Murder suspect sentenced on child rape charges

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A man accused of kidnapping his neighbor's daughter at a Christmas party in 2011 and then raping her has been sentenced to three life sentences, plus 15 years in prison.

James Maxwell pleaded guilty on Friday.  He was found guilty of several charges, including kidnapping of a minor, lewd or lascivious molestation and sexual battery on a person under the age of 12.

Police said Maxwell raped the girl and then dropped her off at the police station. He was taken into custody minutes later, a few miles from where he took the girl.

Police said they were able to locate Maxwell after a witness saw him and followed him.

In a separate case, Maxwell is scheduled to go to trial in January 2013 on two counts of first-degree murder in the August 2012 deaths of Chasity Danette Starr and Pamela Sue Will.

The body of Starr was found buried in the back yard of Maxwell's Port Orange home in June. Police believe she was killed in January 2011.

Police said they also believe Maxwell disposed of Will's body in a ditch behind an Ormond Beach business where he was employed, after killing her in September 2010.

Maxwell served nine years in prison for attempting to kill a prostitute in the 1980s.

WFTV