A 1996 Penn State graduate suspected in connection with two State College rape cases was convicted by a Florida jury earlier this week of attempting to rape a sunbather in St. Johns County in 2003.

Now, State College Police say they would like a shot at prosecuting the former student.

State College Police Sgt. Mark Argiro said the department is actively seeking an extradition so David A. Shuey, 32, can be prosecuted for two rape cases in State College.

Both of the local cases took place in 1997.

"We're not sure when we're going to get a crack at him," Argiro said.

In September 2003, Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar used DNA evidence to link Shuey to the cases. Shuey was arrested Aug. 3, 2003, by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Department and charged with attempted sexual battery, robbery and false imprisonment, said Sherry Fuller, a clerk at the sheriff's department.

Shuey was found guilty after a two-day trial that ended Tuesday, a felony clerk at the county's courthouse said.

He is currently being held at the St. Johns County Jail, a felony clerk at the county's courthouse said.

In addition to several cases in Florida and State College, Shuey is also a suspect in Connecticut, Argiro said.

Therefore, State College officials have to wait their turn to prosecute Shuey.

"Since he's been charged in different venues, each department's lining up to get their crack at him," Argiro said.

It would make sense for the Florida cases against Shuey to be settled before a different jurisdiction begins prosecution, Argiro said.

The district attorneys from each area will decide who will take action first against Shuey, he added.

A time frame for a case against Shuey is unknown.

State College Police named Shuey as a suspect in the 1997 rape cases after obtaining a "John Doe" warrant, which identified the individual matching DNA from a May 1997 case as a suspect, though the warrant lacked a name.

On May 1, 1997, a woman was raped in her apartment at 224 S. Burrowes St., and on Nov. 23, 1997, another woman was raped in her apartment at 619 S. Pugh St. In both instances, a man replied to advertisements the women placed seeking an apartment sublet.

The John Doe warrant gave police a chance to file charges before the five-year statute of limitations on sexual offenses expired.

State College Police lacked any information on the possible identity of the "sublet rapist" until Florida officials contacted the department with Shuey's name.

"We, for the longest time, had no leads on who this actor was," Argiro said.