YOUNGSTOWN — Dylan M. Wilkerson, 25, of Painesville, was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty before Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to raping a woman in Canfield on Aug. 8.

Kevin Day, assistant county prosecutor, said Wilkerson was working out of town and was invited to stay at the victim’s apartment by her roommate. Wilkerson knew both women.

“When the victim fell asleep on her couch, she woke up to (Wilkerson) sexually assaulting her,” Day said. “The defendant took advantage of her. When confronted by both the victim and her roommate, (Wilkerson) didn’t deny it happened. He basically said, ‘I screwed up.'”

Day said the rape does “warrant a significant sentence.” Wilkerson was previously convicted of a low-level felony grand theft.

“The victim has suffered obviously serious psychological harm from this offense. She has been greatly affected,” Day said.

“It’s one of the worst things you could do –take advantage of a young woman, to take advantage of people who were providing you with a place to stay. He had no place else to go. That’s why he was at their apartment. They gave him a place, and this is how he repaid them.”

Day said prosecutors wanted Wilkerson to get seven years in prison. Because of Wilkerson’s rape conviction, he is required to register as a Tier 3 sex offender, meaning after he leave prison, he will have to register his address every 90 days for life.

In his presentation to Durkin, Wilkerson apologized, saying: “It was never my intention to upset you in any way. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t feel terrible for what had happened, for the way it had happened. I hope you know I would never intentionally hurt you. I care about you too much to do that to you.”

The victim was in the courtroom for the sentencing.

“I was a young man who was inexperienced in life. I have a lot to learn in life still. There is a lot that I don’t understand and struggle to understand,” he said, adding that he has mental health issues “that strongly affect me in negative ways.”

Attorney Michael Kivlighan, who represents Wilkerson, told the judge that Wilkerson has had “lifelong issues with learning disabilities and had individualized learning programs throughout school, was unable to graduate from high school, and has had a lifelong battle with mental health disorders. He certainly has trouble with comprehension.”

He said Wilkerson apologized and “took responsibility” later in text messages.

“He also thought he was engaged in sexual foreplay. In his mind, they were having a conversation and when she fell asleep, he continued following with what her initial consent gave him,” Kivlighan said. He asked that Wilkerson get three years in prison.

The judge said he understands Wilkerson’s remarks about not intending to hurt someone, but, “You hurt somebody, and in cases like this, emotional trauma can be far worse than physical harm or trauma. It’s something the victim is going to have to live with.”