Local man charged on two counts of felony rape
The Adams County Sheriff’s Department arrested James E. Shaffer, 34, N. Hickory Road, Decatur, on Tuesday on two counts of level three felony rape.
According to a probable cause affidavit that led to Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Jeremy W. Brown filing the charges, Shaffer is accused of raping a local victim on or about February 13 of this year and on or about June 19, 2021. Charges filed noted the case this year occurred where the victim was unaware that sexual intercourse was occurring and count two from 2021 stated Shaffer allegedly had intentional sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct with the victim who was compelled by force to comply as she was forcibly held on the bed at the time.
The affidavit filed noted the victim called to report the incident of this year recently and she was interviewed at the Adams County Law Enforcement and Detention Center by deputy Josh Kimberlain.
She told Kimberlain that she had returned home around 11:30 p.m. from a date and went to sleep. She said she woke up later to discover Shaffer was having intercourse with her. She said he looked surprised that she woke up and that he was sorry. He stopped any further sexual contact with the victim and said he couldn’t help himself around her because he loved her.
The victim admitted this was not the first time this had happened and she showed Kimberlain evidence from her cell phone of text messages in which the victim told Shaffer his actions were not acceptable and he would apologize noting he would leave her alone because all he does is hurts her.
During a later interview with Detective Larry Butler, the victim showed a text message in which she told Shaffer he “traumatized me in more ways than one.” Three minutes later, Shaffer responded “never should have happened, I apologize, I won’t get near you again. I don’t want to hurt you and all I do is hurt you. I will let go.”
The victim further discussed a June 19, 2021, incident in which she awoke to Shaffer holding her arms above her head, putting his fingers inside of her and then engaging in sexual intercourse. The victim repeatedly told Shaffer he was hurting her. Shaffer allegedly told the victim he was going to rape her then at which point the victim began to kick and scream to get Shaffer
off of her. The screaming woke up the victim’s young child who started crying and Shaffer stopped his actions.
The victim showed Butler a screenshot of a conversation she had with Shaffer on that date in which he again apologized and said “I am sorry, didn’t mean for that to be like an actual rape thing. I just thought more of a role thing but still wrong and that absolutely will never happen again.”
The charges against Shaffer were filed in Adams Circuit Court but as of Wednesday morning an arraignment hearing date for him had not been set.