An Allston man convicted last month of raping one woman, and who faces a second trial for the rape of another woman in unrelated incidents two years ago, was today sentenced to serve up to 30 years behind bars, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced.

On May 19, a Superior Court jury convicted PAUL L. CARMICHAEL (D.O.B. 1/20/70), of aggravated rape, kidnapping, and assault and battery for the July 22, 2008 rape and beating of a then 25-year-old Cambridge woman in his Allston Street apartment. He was acquitted of a fourth charge of aggravated assault and battery. He was sentenced today to a term of 25 to 30 years in prison followed by five years of probation.

“There’s no question that an extremely dangerous person is off the streets today,” Conley said. “The verdict can’t undo the horror he perpetrated, but the sentence can ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

During those five years, he must stay away from and have no contact with the victim, submit a DNA sample to the state’s database, register as a sex offender, and receive sex offender treatment.

Prior to sentencing, the victim, who testified at trial, gave an impact statement to the court.

“This incident has brought a lot of stress in my relationships with others,” she said. “I am lucky and fortunate for getting out alive.”

Speaking of the defendant, she said, “I hope this person gets help…so that when he gets out, he does not do it again.”

In recommending a lengthy prison term, Assistant District Attorney Jane Johnedis-Woodbury of Conley’s Sexual Assault Unit spoke of the “sadistic nature of the crime” and the physical and mental torture that the victim endured while the defendant kept her captive in his apartment.

Johnedis-Woodbury noted “the enjoyment the defendant took in seeing her suffer and putting her in pain,” spoke of the victim’s petite frame – at 4 feet 11 inches tall – and described how she used “all the strength she had to fight him and didn’t give up” until she was able to escape from Carmichael’s apartment.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Connolly thanked the victim for having the courage to testify at trial and provide an impact statement to the court. He also had harsh words for the defendant.

“This conduct is the worst kind of conduct any man would have towards a woman,” he said.

Johnedis-Woodbury proved that on the evening of July 21, 2008, Carmichael approached the victim in Central Square, Cambridge. The woman had seen Carmichael in the neighborhood before. After inviting her to a nearby nightclub but balking at the $5.00 cover charge, Carmichael hailed a cab, telling her they would go to Harvard Square. The victim joined him but the cab ultimately dropped them off at Carmichael’s building instead.

Shortly after 11:00, when the victim tried to leave Carmichael’s apartment, he held her against her will and raped her.

When the victim was finally able to escape from the defendant’s apartment in the early morning hours of July 22, she hailed a cab and was able to make her way to the District 14 station where she reported the attack. She was subsequently treated at an area hospital.

She was able to positively identify Carmichael through photographic arrays, and on July 22, Boston Police sexual assault detectives arrested him and took him into custody, where he has been held since his Brighton District Court arraignment that same day.

Carmichael has also been indicted with aggravated rape, kidnapping, and assault and battery charges for a July 5, 2008, attack on a then-28-year-old Brighton woman. In that case, he allegedly approached the victim near the intersection of Commonwealth and Harvard avenues on the morning of July 5. After following the woman and making overtures that she rebuffed, Carmichael allegedly approached her, grabbing her wrists and shoulder. He allegedly forced her onto Allston Street and into his building, where he allegedly strangled and raped her. Carmichael is scheduled to go to trial on that case on Sept. 20. He is represented in both cases by attorney Eduardo Masferrer.

Conley urged victims of sexual assault to contact the Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit at 617-343-4400, or the Suffolk DA’s Sexual Assault Unit at 617-619-4350. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center’s 24-hour hotline is 800-841-8371.

Anne Kelley-McCarthy was the victim-witness advocate assigned to the case.