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Siloam Springs Man Pleads Not Guilty To Rape, Battery Charges

BENTONVILLE (KFSM) — A Siloam Springs man has pleaded not guilty to beating and raping a 69-year-old Gravette woman in October. Charles Alan Rickman, 30, ...
Charles Rickman

BENTONVILLE (KFSM) — A Siloam Springs man has pleaded not guilty to beating and raping a 69-year-old Gravette woman in October.

Charles Alan Rickman, 30, is charged with aggravated residential burglary; kidnapping; first-degree battery; first-degree terroristic threatening; aggravated assault; theft of property and two counts of rape.

The woman said Rickman came to her home Oct. 2 asking to use her cell phone, according to a probable cause affidavit.

She let him use the phone and when he returned, she said he forced his way inside and tied her up.

Over the next 18 hours, she said Rickman beat and raped her, according to the affidavit.

Investigators with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office noted the woman had ligature marks nearly a half-inch wide on her body.

Investigators also found a trail of blood from the living room to the bathroom to an upstairs loft, as well as several bloodied garments and cleaning supplies.

Rickman’s co-worker told police he was acting nervous when he came into work Oct. 3, and he noticed Rickman had some bruising on his hands. The victim later identified some clothing and personal items that investigators found in Rickman’s car.

Rickman said he kept women’s clothing in his car because he’s gay and occasionally likes to cross-dress, according to the affidavit.

Rickman initially said he never entered the woman’s residence, but later said he did just to use the restroom. When investigators began asking about the alleged attack, Rickman asked for a lawyer.

Rickman was being held Wednesday (Nov. 22) at the Benton County Jail on a $256,000 bond. He has an omnibus hearing set for Dec. 11 in Benton County Circuit Court.

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