Man’s bail $250,000 in assault on woman
BENTONVILLE — A 69-year-old Gravette woman who authorities say was beaten and raped earlier this week remained in serious condition in a Northwest Arkansas hospital Friday.
Charles Alan Rickman, 30, of Siloam Springs was arrested in the case, accused of rape, aggravated residential burglary, aggravated assault, kidnapping, terroristic threatening, tampering with physical evidence, theft of property and interference with emergency communication.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren set Rickman’s bail at $250,000 during a hearing Friday.
The woman told Benton County sheriff’s office detectives that a man arrived at her door about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and asked to use her cellphone, according to a probable cause affidavit
filed Friday.
The woman said she opened her door a few inches and slid the phone to him, but when he returned with the phone he forced his way into the home, according to the affidavit.
The man used a brown cloth material already in the home to tie around her head, covering her eyes, nose and mouth, the affidavit states. The woman said the man tied her, beat and raped her until 6 to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to the affidavit.
The woman told police the man also threatened to kill her.
While investigating the case, detectives learned the woman had work done on her house by a registered sex offender, according to the affidavit. Detectives spoke with the sex offender, who denied any involvement but said his co-worker — Rickman — was acting nervous when he went to work Tuesday morning and had injuries on his hand.
The man told detectives the last time they were at the woman’s home was a month ago.
Detectives arrested Rickman at his house Tuesday in a prior alcohol-related case, and Rickman’s mother gave detectives permission to search a vehicle in the front yard that is registered to her.
Detectives found women’s clothing, bras and underwear, an oil container, used condoms, a blue plastic glove with blood on it and a binder containing pornography magazines, according to the affidavit.
Rickman was questioned by a detective and asked why
he had women’s underwear in his car and why the items appeared to have blood on them. Rickman claimed the blood was his and that he likes to wear women’s clothing because he’s gay, according to the affidavit.
Rickman requested an attorney when he was asked about the woman’s attack, according to the affidavit.
He had scratches on his inner thighs, hands, back, stomach and arms and what appeared to be bruises on the back of his right arm, the affidavit said.
The woman who was attacked identified two items of clothing found in Rickman’s car as hers, according to the affidavit.
Carrie Dobbs, deputy prosecutor, recommended Friday that bail be set at $250,000, citing the seriousness of the case.
Jonathan Faught, deputy public defender, represented Rickman at the hearing. Faught told the judge Rickman has lived in Northwest Arkansas his entire life, has numerous ties to the community and no felony criminal convictions. Rickman had a job until his arrest, Faught said.
The judge ordered Rickman not to have contact with the woman.