Former Savannah police officer convicted of kidnapping, rape

SAVANNAH - A jury convicted a former Savannah police officer Friday of rape, sexual battery, kidnapping and false imprisonment. <br> <br> Joseph Quenga, 47, maintained throughout his trial that he did not commit the offenses, including the kidnapping and rape of a woman he pulled over for DUI in 2000. <br> <br> ``Officer Quenga, a jury of your peers disagrees with you,&#39;&#39; Judge John E. Morse Jr. said. Jurors deliberated for five hours before rendering their verdict. <br> <br> Quenga was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Under Georgia&#39;s Seven Deadly Sins law, he must serve 100 percent of his time, with no chance for parole. <br> <br> Quenga&#39;s attorney, Michael Edwards, asked the judge to consider his client&#39;s good character in handing down a sentence. But Morse said that for a police officer to sexually assault women while wearing his badge was ``quite devastating.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> ``There&#39;s no greater blow to the criminal justice system than for one who is part of that system to abuse it,&#39;&#39; Morse said. <br> <br> Edwards said they will appeal in the case.