Clark County (The Evening News)
Clark County man charged with raping woman at knifepoint
Third party drew gun to help alleged victim escape
A 30-year-old man appeared in court Monday, accused of raping a woman at knifepoint with her 2-year-old child left unattended in a vehicle outside.
Police say that on Wednesday, Michael Andrew May held a chef’s knife to the woman, whom he used to be in a relationship with, as he had her drive to an abandoned New Washington house. He then broke into the house and forced her inside, according to a Clark County Sheriff’s Department report.
Emergency medical services personnel were called to the scene when the alleged victim called 911 to report a suicidal man on the 11800 block of Cole Road. When EMS arrived, they found May had attempted suicide by cutting both of his forearms, a police report says.
The alleged victim in the case told police she — along with her 2-year-old son in the car — picked up May in Sellersburg at about 12:40 p.m. She told police she was giving him a ride to work because his driver’s license is suspended.
When the three stopped at a Circle K gas station on Ind. 311 in Sellersburg, May allegedly pulled a knife on her and told her she would not be hurt if she did what he told her.
May then allegedly took the battery out of her cell phone to prevent anyone from tracking them and had her drive to the abandoned house. He allegedly made her write his suicide note and they sat behind a shed talking while the child sat in the vehicle.
She estimated that between 4 and 5 p.m., he used a brick to bust out a window in the back door of the house and then ordered her inside and told her to take off her clothes. The alleged victim told police that May held the knife to her throat as he ordered her to perform various sex acts.
When May tried to leave with the woman and child, the vehicle reportedly became stuck in the mud. At about 8 p.m., he used the 411 service to find the number for the owner of the property, according to what the woman told police.
May reportedly told the property owner, Michael Cole, that he was visiting a childhood home and got stuck. He asked him to come help him get his vehicle unstuck.
Cole went to the house and tried to help tow the vehicle out of the mud. While the men worked on the vehicle, the alleged victim grabbed the knife and hid it underneath her seat, the report states. When May realized the knife was missing, he took it from her while she grabbed her son and exited the vehicle.
May allegedly came at the woman with a knife, and Cole pulled out a small handgun and pointed it at May. The victim and her son left with Cole as they dialed 911.
“From what I read in the report, the case was very serious,” said Clark County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull. “If it wasn’t for the citizen bringing a gun with him out to the house, who knows what could have happened.”
EMS personnel said that when they arrived, May confessed to raping the woman and said he was distraught their relationship had ended, police records state.
May had been on home incarceration and took off his ankle bracelet before the alleged attack occurred, police records indicate.
May appeared in Clark County Superior Court No. 1. He is being charged with the class A felonies of rape and criminal deviate conduct; the class B felonies of criminal confinement and burglary; and class D felony escape.
He faces 52 1/2 to 143 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Judge Vicki Carmichael set bond at $50,000 cash-only. An omnibus hearing was set for Sept. 22 with a jury trial scheduled for Jan. 5.
Carmichael ordered May to be transported to Clark Memorial Hospital for a physical evaluation and assessment for treatment and possible surgery because of his injuries.
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