BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A Baldwin County jury deliberated less than two hours this morning before finding a Daphne man guilty of first-degree rape and third-degree domestic violence.

Sentencing will be at 9 a.m. June 8 for Perris Jackson, 43, of Timber Creek. Jackson faces 10 to 99 years on the rape charge and one year on the domestic violence charge, according to prosecutor Scott Taylor.

According to court testimony, Jackson waited for the woman to return to their home from work Nov. 9, 2009, then became enraged about a relationship she had previously with another man.

“She was beaten and forcibly raped twice by the defendant,” Taylor told the jury. “She told him no and fought to resist. This went on for hours.”

Daphne Police detective James Matthews said the woman drove herself to Thomas Hospital for medical attention, where he was called by medical staffers.

Matthews testified that the woman had bruises on her arms and marks on her neck indicating choking.

“She was upset and hesitant to tell what happened,” Matthews said. “But that is not unusual in cases like this.”

Jackson told investigators the woman hit him several times that night and that the couple had consentual sex. “I am not the one that has ever struck the first blow,” he said in a taped interview with authorities. He also admitted to hitting the female.

Defense attorney Danny Mitchell argued that the couple fought regularly and that alcohol fueled their arguments.

“There was a tropical storm coming in and some people were sent home from work that day,” Mitchell told jurors. “They got wine and drank a lot. They argued like cats and dogs and this was not the first time.”

Mitchell said there were no bruises or cuts consistent with “the pounding” the woman described on the witness stand.

“Mr. Jackson said the sex was consentual, and the state says there was a vicious beating,” Mitchell said. “But there is no evidence of severe injuries.”