40 year sentence for rape of relatives

SALAMANCA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A man who took three of his minor relatives over state lines and repeatedly raped them was sentenced Friday to 40 years behind bars and a lifetime of supervised release.

After a two-week jury trial, Kevin Donaldson, 48, of Salamanca was found guilty of transporting minors across state lines for the purpose of sexual abuse and witness tampering. From 2004 through 2007, Donaldson took his victims over state lines and repeatedly raped them.

Prosecutors say one of his victims was 13-years-old at the time the abuse began and it continued for three years. Testimony from the victims indicated Donaldson ignored their repeated pleas to stop.

While awaiting for his trial to begin, Donaldson was locked up in the Niagara County Jail. From his cell, Donaldson wrote multiple letters to the victims and the mother of one of the victims, telling them to testify that "nothing happened."

Prior to this conviction, Donaldson was sentenced to serve four years in prison on state rape charges out of Cattaraugus County. In that 2010 case, Donaldson raped a 15-year-old girl.