The Daily Herald

PROVO — A woman raped two years ago by a fellow BYU student and member of her on-campus LDS ward took the unusual step Friday of going public with her story.

After a judge sentenced her attacker Friday to a prison term, Elizabeth Brockway, 19, said her goal is to empower other rape survivors.

“You have a lot of support in the legal system,” Brockway said. “They’re there to help you. It’s hard, but it’s worth it because if you can prevent one rape, it’s worth the suffering you’ll go through.”

Fourth District Judge James Taylor sentenced Orem native Matthew Holman, 22, to concurrent terms of 1-15 years in the Utah State Prison and fined him $2,500 for second-degree felony counts of attempted rape and forcible sexual abuse.

Holman originally faced three charges — first-degree felony counts of rape and aggravated sexual assault and a second-degree felony count of forcible sex abuse — said David Sturgill, a deputy attorney in the Utah County Attorney’s Office. The reduced charges were the result of a plea bargain agreement.

Brockway’s decision to speak out is exceptional. Rape survivors in the United States rarely do so because of a victim-blaming society, said Patricia Mills, program coordinator for the Utah County Rape Crisis Center.

“We look for reasons for these crimes, and it’s easier to place at least some blame on her,” Mills said. “If she has no responsibility, it puts fear in us because it makes us realize it could happen to us or our children.”

Mills, who has never worked with a survivor who took this step, believes Brockway’s decision to speak out could be a healthy one.

“The fact she’s coming forward tells me it’s a part of healing,” Mills said. “She’s saying he did this to her and she didn’t do anything wrong. She’s setting a good example of her taking back her control of her life.”

Holman told police he controlled Brockway’s life during the rape.

“I felt like I was in control for a moment, like I was in control over someone else like I’m not in control of myself,” Holman told an Orem detective in a videotaped statement.

“Those are words of a true rapist,” Utah County Deputy Attorney David Sturgill told the judge.

Brockway sat in the front row of the courtroom. For part of the hearing, she was only 5 feet from Holman as he sat at the defense table. A female member of the group Bikers Against Child Abuse sat with her arm around Brockway.

Brockway was 17 when she graduated from high school in 2000 and enrolled in summer classes at BYU, where Holman was among her group of friends at Deseret Towers, an on-campus housing complex where they both lived.

Holman admitted as part of a plea bargain agreement that he invited Brockway to dinner and a movie with his family on July 24, 2000. When the two arrived at his family’s Orem home, nobody else was there. Holman then sexually abused and raped her. Afterward, Brockway said Holman drove her to the Provo LDS temple, forced her to look at it and told her she would never be allowed inside because of what he’d done to her.

Holman’s attorney, Fred Metos, denied that allegation and said his client took the victim back to Deseret Towers.

Only members who abide by church standards, which include abstinence from premarital or extramarital sex, are allowed inside LDS temples. The victims of rape are not considered unworthy of temple attendance, according to church policy.

“A victim of a sexual assault or other form of abuse deserves love and support,” said Mike Otterson, a church spokesman. “Recovering from such a trauma is often very difficult. The worthiness of such a victim is not affected by the fact that someone else has forcibly robbed them of their free will and right to choose.”

During the hearing, Holman apologized to Brockway and her family as he spoke to the judge. Taylor referred to Holman’s expressions of remorse when he pronounced the sentence.

“In spite of the statements you’ve made, I’m not convinced you’ve come to grips with the extent of harm you’ve done,” the judge said. Brockway began to cry as Taylor continued, “We have a very inexperienced, very naive, very tender victim. … The fact is this is a heinous crime. It has disastrous results.”

Brockway declined to speak to the judge during the hearing but held a five-minute press conference afterward.

“I’m just glad everyone knows who he is and what he did because it’s terrible and too many people like that seem protected and don’t get publicity. I think it’s important everyone understands what he did,” she said.

Holman’s lawyers said there had been no publicity about the crime until now.

Brockway’s father said his daughter’s motives for speaking publicly included the “disempowerment” of rapists. Mills said the rape crisis center, which deals with survivors in the first 72 hours after the crime, helped 350 women in Utah County the year Brockway was attacked.

“Someone needs to find a way to empower those victims to help shut down those rapists,” Stephen Brockway said.

Brockway struggled with her faith in the LDS Church and trust in BYU because Holman was a church member and a BYU employee. He worked as a conference assistant, helping people who attended various conferences and workshops at the university, according to Carri Jenkins, a school spokeswoman.

“It was hard to find myself and become faithful like I want to become and be who I want to become,” said Brockway, now a full-time student majoring in dance. “It was really hard at first, but BYU was really supportive. I’m so glad I can continue to go there and feel safe now.”

Holman was expelled by BYU and will not be allowed to return in the future, Jenkins said.

Holman should serve 40 to 45 months, according to guidelines provided to the court in a presentence report by Adult Probation & Parole, said Metos, Holman’s attorney. He said the Board of Pardons would have a hearing within nine months, however, and could release Holman after a year.

Brockway testified against Holman in a preliminary hearing in September 2001.

Tad Walch can be reached at 592-3122 or at twalch@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.