Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A Jonesboro man is facing multiple felony charges, including rape and kidnapping, after police said he attacked and raped his ex-wife during a domestic assault.
District Judge David Boling found probable cause July 8 to charge 51-year-old Demetric Lamont Howard with the following offenses:
- Rape/oral or anal intercourse/forcible compulsion (Class Y felony)
- First-degree false imprisonment/kidnapping (Class Y felony)
- Terroristic threatening – threatens to cause death or serious physical injury (Class D felony)
- Third-degree domestic battering with the purpose of causing injury (Class A misdemeanor)
- Fleeing (Class C misdemeanor)
- Resisting arrest – refusal to submit to arrest (Class B misdemeanor)
According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 21, Jonesboro police officers were dispatched to a home on Johnwood Drive for a welfare check at the request of the victim’s boyfriend. The boyfriend said he received a call from the victim’s ex-husband, Howard, making statements that made him think his girlfriend was in danger.
Officers were met by the victim, who had blood on her face and other injuries. Howard was also at the scene and ran into the home before officers could make contact with him.
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The victim told one of the officers that she took her daughter to Howard’s house, and when the daughter got out of the vehicle, he got in the passenger seat of the car. Howard then told the victim to drive to a truck stop down the road, and while there, he punched her in the head with a closed fist and brass knuckles, and pepper sprayed her in the face. Officers noted injuries on the victim, including a large knot and cut on her forehead, and red marks on her neck.
The affidavit further alleges that while at the truck stop, Howard stood outside the vehicle, pulled down his pants, and forced the victim to perform oral sex. He then allegedly removed part of her clothing and attempted vaginal intercourse, but was unable to maintain an erection.
While a bondsman and attorney told police that Howard would be turning himself in, he never did so, forcing deputies to attempt to find him.
On July 7, deputies returned to the home on Johnwood Drive. After knocking on the door, they saw Howard leaving the residence through the back window and running to the fence, where he tried to jump the fence. He saw one of the deputies on the other side of the fence and started walking back toward the home, refusing to comply with commands. As a result, deputies deployed a taser and were able to get Howard in handcuffs.
Howard is being held on a $75,000 cash/surety bond with the condition to wear a GPS ankle monitor upon release. He must also have no contact with the victim. His next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 21. If convicted on all charges, he faces up to life in prison and fines up to $14,000.
Editor’s Note: JRN has chosen not to publish certain details due to the graphic nature of the case.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic/sexual violence, call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also call 870-933-9449 to reach the Family Crisis Center’s emergency hotline.
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