Man convicted of Internet rapes skips bail, on the run

Tom Gardner

Friday, April 30, 1999 | 3:47 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - A man facing life in prison after he admitted raping two women he met on the Internet became the subject of a manhunt Friday when he skipped bail and failed to show at his sentencing hearing.

One of his victims, who was present in the Washoe County courtroom to testify, nearly fainted at the news and began sobbing uncontrollably.

Known only as Jennifer W., she earlier sued the Sparks police department for nearly $1 million for allegedly ignoring her initial complaints and calling her a liar.

Washoe District Judge Janet Berry ordered Timothy Joe Mobly's $20,000 bond forfeited and issued a new $5 million bench warrant for his arrest.

The judge told Washoe County Sheriff Richard Kirkland to notify the FBI and Interpol.

"I don't know the whereabouts of Mr. Mobly," his attorney, Dan McCormick, told the judge after about a half-hour delay in the sentencing hearing.

Mobly, 25, and an accomplice, Aaron Matthew Cross, earlier pleaded guilty to the Jan. 2 sexual assault of the second victim, a 17-year-old high school junior.

Cross, also 25, was sentenced Friday to two consecutive life terms in prison. He'll be eligible for parole after 20 years.

Mobly alone pleaded guilty to the November sexual assault of 24-year-old Jennifer W. of Sparks, although Cross took part in her kidnapping.

Both victims testified at the sentencing hearing for Cross.

"Mr. Mobly and Mr. Cross took something from me which can never be replaced or repaired," Jennifer W. said.

Leaning against rape victim advocate Jana Anderson for support, she choked back sobs and added, "With that in mind, it would only be fair for these two men to serve the rest of their lives in prison, like the prison they put me in - not of my own making."

The 17-year-old testified that she was a virgin when she was raped and wore a promise ring to reflect a vow she made three years ago to remain "sexually pure" until marriage.

"When I was with them my life was being threatened all the time and I think it's only fair that his life be taken away - not by death but by back-to-back sentences," she said.

"If I could wear my pain on the outside walking into this courtroom I would, just to show what they did to me."

Cross' attorney, Mike Mausert, conceded that the crime was reprehensible, but urged the judge to let the sentences run together in light of his client's clean prior record.

"Except for this disaster in his life, he is a normal nice guy," he said.

He also argued that Cross sensed Mobly was planning to kill the 17-year-old and deliberately left her bonds loose enough that she could escape when the two men drove her car into the desert to dump it.

Cross apologized to both women in a brief appearance on the stand.

"I'm sorry for the pain I put you through," he said. "There's no excuse for what I did. I can't offer you any explanations. I'm just thoroughly sorry."

Jennifer W.'s attorney, Marc Picker, said his client is in shock.

"She's very upset. She broke down," he said. "The major player is still out there and she is scared to death. Mr. Mobly is terrifying her even further."

Jennifer W., who doesn't want her last name known, is suing the Sparks police department, three detectives and chief John Dotson for more than $900,000, saying she was humiliated and accused of lying when she tried to report the rape in November.

She claims police did nothing about her complaints until after the 17-year-old was assaulted two months later.

Deputy District Attorney Dan Greco said both women were lured to Cross and Mobly through exchanges on the Internet in which the men gained their victims' trust.

And he said that as violent as Jennifer W's rape was, the 17-year-old's assault was more intense and more prolonged.

"They wanted to make this woman their sex slave and they did just that," he said.