A Gary man was handed a 49-year prison sentence Thursday after he was convicted of 18 charges in a February rape trial.
Damian Donaldson, 38, was sentenced in Lake County Superior Court by Judge Salvador Vasquez. The sentence included a variety of consecutive and concurrent charges.
In February, he was convicted of rape, attempted rape, criminal confinement, burglary, two counts of stalking, two counts of intimidation, three counts of domestic battery, one count of strangulation, one count of neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanors. Donaldson was acquitted of intimidation, strangulation and a misdemeanor interference with the reporting of the crime.
He received 13 years for both the rape and attempted rape charges, with the sentences running concurrently. Other concurrent charges include the five misdemeanors and the two counts of stalking.
Vasquez vacated two of the domestic battery charges and the strangulation charge amidst sentencing, saying that those are covered by other charges in the sentence.
“There’s no question that what the jury heard in this case was an extreme act of violence, and that’s not taken lightly,” Vasquez said. “The aggravating factors in this case are significant, and the aggravating sentence is appropriate.”
Court records say that Donaldson sexually assaulted a woman, broke her windshield and poured marinara sauce in her gas tank in October, according to Post-Tribune archives.
Gary police responded after the reported rape, at 8:18 a.m. Oct. 28, finding the woman’s damaged vehicle and a broken pasta sauce jar outside, according to Post-Tribune archives. The woman said Donaldson showed up uninvited at her back door at about 1 a.m., and a previous phone call accused him of trying to get her to perform a sex act for 20 minutes.
Donaldson claimed that the Indiana Department of Child Services would take her children if police were called, according to Post-Tribune archives.
The children woke up during their argument, and after they went back to sleep, Donaldson grabbed the woman’s face and tried to get her to perform a sex act. When she resisted, he choked and raped her instead.
The woman in this case gave a victim impact statement Thursday, saying that Donaldson has patterns of manipulation, violence and lying. His actions affected her and her children, she said.
“He has repeatedly made threats to my life … telling me that I will die by his hands,” she said. “He’s threatened to kill me and my children, and he’s created a terrifying environment for me and my children.”
She also said that Donaldson sexually assaulted her, including in front of her children, and that she has watched him harm and manipulate other women.
“I believe he’s incredibly dangerous,” she said. “I’m concerned for my safety, my children’s safety, and the safety of anyone who comes in contact with him.”
Donaldson’s attorney, Patricia Ivanovich, asked for a 14-year sentence Thursday. Deputy Prosecutor Jessica (Arnold) Woodward asked for a 65-year sentence, saying Donaldson has not learned from previous incidents and doesn’t have remorse for his actions.
Before his sentencing, Donaldson spoke to the court, saying that he isn’t manipulative and doesn’t lie. He told Vasquez that he didn’t believe an aggravated sentence would be fair in this case, and this is the first time he’s been charged with crimes of this nature.
“This makes me look like a monster,” Donaldson said. “This is just a toxic relationship.”
Donaldson’s girlfriend, Kena Davis, testified on his behalf Thursday. The two have known each other for about three-and-a-half years, Davis said.
Davis has two children, and she said that Donaldson has a good relationship with them and “treats them like his own.” He’s helpful and has a good relationship with his family, Davis said.
“Please be lenient,” she told Vasquez. “He’s a great father and a great man. He does everything that a woman might need.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/gary-man-sentenced-to-49-years-after-rape-trial/
