$250,000 Bond Set for 20-Year-Old Facing Rape Charge in Craighead County

JONESBORO, Ark. – A 20-year-old man has been arrested and charged with rape following an investigation involving a juvenile, according to a probable cause affidavit released on Wednesday.

Roger Dylan Shoemaker, 20, was taken into custody after an investigation by the Jonesboro Police Department and the Crimes Against Children Division of the Arkansas State Police. The investigation began after police were contacted regarding allegations involving a 13-year-old.

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According to an affidavit, investigators conducted a forensic interview with the alleged victim, who disclosed an incident that reportedly occurred in November. Authorities say the alleged victim described sexual contact involving Shoemaker.

As part of the investigation, JPD detectives located Shoemaker at Motel 6 in Jonesboro on Dec. 17. He was taken into custody without incident, interviewed, and transported to the Craighead County Detention Center.

Shoemaker was arrested for rape, a Class Y felony punishable by up to life in prison.

On Wednesday, Judge Tommy Fowler set bail at $250,000 cash or surety with an ankle monitor and a no-contact order to protect the alleged victim.

The next court date is January 23.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(a) A person commits rape if he or she engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with another person:
(1) By forcible compulsion;
(2) Who is incapable of consent because he or she is:
(A) Physically helpless;
(B) Mentally defective; or
(C) Mentally incapacitated;
  (3)
 (A) Who is less than fourteen (14) years of age.
(B) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section that the actor was not more than three (3) years older than the victim; or
(4)
(A) Who is a minor and the actor is the victim’s:
(i) Guardian;
(ii) Uncle, aunt, grandparent, step-grandparent, or grandparent by adoption;
(iii) Brother or sister of the whole or half blood or by adoption; or
(iv) Nephew, niece, or first cousin.
(B) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subdivision (a)(4)(A) of this section that the actor was not more than three (3) years older than the victim.
(b) It is no defense to a prosecution under subdivision (a)(3) or subdivision (a)(4) of this section that the victim consented to the conduct.
(c)
   (1) Rape is a Class Y felony.
   (2) Except as provided under § 5-4-104(c)(2), a person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of rape involving a victim who is less than fourteen (14) years of age shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five (25) years.
(d)
(1) A court may issue a permanent no contact order when:
(A) A defendant pleads guilty or nolo contendere; or
(B) All of the defendant’s appeals have been exhausted and the defendant remains convicted.
(2) If a judicial officer has reason to believe that mental disease or defect of the defendant will or has become an issue in the case, the judicial officer shall enter orders consistent with § 5-2-327 or § 5-2-328, or both.
(e) A person convicted of rape is subject to § 9-10-121.

Source: Justia