Rape Suspect Accused of Contacting Victim from Jail; $2.5 Million Bond Set

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, Ark. — A Craighead County District Court judge set a high bond this week for a male accused of numerous charges, including rape, threatening to kill the victim, and then contacting the victim from jail.

Joseph Reseae Brown, 33, was arrested April 10 and is facing charges of rape, third-degree battery, first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree kidnapping-false imprisonment, fleeing, misdemeanor drugs, and violation of a no-contact order.

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According to the probable cause affidavit, officers responded around 5:41 p.m. April 10 to a disturbance in Craighead County and made contact with the alleged victim, who reported Brown had physically assaulted her.

The victim told officers Brown became angry when she tried to wake him for work. She said Brown grabbed her, threw her onto a couch, and struck her in the left side of the face with a closed fist. She also reported that when she tried to call for help, Brown took her phone and would not return it. A witness reportedly corroborated hearing Brown yelling during the call.

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The affidavit states Brown then pushed the victim to the ground and struck her again on the left side of her forehead. Officers reported observing injuries consistent with her account, including swelling to the left side of her face and an abrasion on her left forearm.

The victim further reported that Brown grabbed her shirt, causing it to tear, pushed her into a bedroom, forced her onto a bed, removed her clothing, and engaged in non-consensual sexual intercourse, causing injury, according to the affidavit. The affidavit states she told Brown multiple times to stop.

Authorities also alleged Brown threatened the victim, telling her, “When I get out of jail, I’m going to kill you, bitch.”

While officers were on scene, Brown allegedly attempted to contact the victim multiple times using a masked phone number. Officers later saw Brown leaving a different residence. When he noticed the police, the affidavit states, he fled on foot. Officers apprehended him after a short pursuit and used a K-9 to track him.

During the arrest, officers found a bag containing 5.1 grams of marijuana in Brown’s pocket, according to the affidavit.

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Court records cited in the affidavit state Brown was served June 30, 2025, with a no-contact order barring contact with the victim. The affidavit also states Brown previously entered a guilty plea on Oct. 8, 2025, to third-degree domestic battery involving the same victim.

A temporary $1 million bond was initially set on April 12 with no-contact-order conditions. Brown refused to sign the no-contact order that was requested as a bond condition, according to the judge.

The affidavit further states that during an April 14 interview, the victim showed authorities a phone message reflecting a call from Brown through the Craighead County Detention Center in the early morning hours of April 14. The victim did not answer the call.

At his 8.1 hearing on Wednesday, Judge David Boling increased Brown’s bond to $2.5 million after reading the probable cause affidavit. Boling also placed restrictions on Brown’s jail communications after noting the alleged contact with the victim.

The listed charges are:

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Rape, Class Y felony
Domestic battery in the third degree, multiple offenses within five years, Class D felony
Terroristic threatening in the first degree, Class D felony
Kidnapping-false imprisonment in the second degree, Class A misdemeanor
Fleeing, Class A misdemeanor
Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance less than 4 ounces, Class A misdemeanor
Violation of a no-contact order

Rape is a Class Y felony punishable by up to life in prison.

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