Grand jury indicts Potter

0

SIDNEY — The woman accused of kidnapping another person was indicted by a Shelby County grand jury Thursday morning.

Rachael Ellen Potter, 34, who was arrested Wednesday evening during a traffic stop by Sidney Police, appeared via video arraignment in Sidney Municipal Court Thursday morning where she faced kidnapping and felonious assault charges. Municipal Court Judge Duane Goettemoeller set bond at $150,000. He issued a no contact order with the victim.

After appearing in Municipal Court, Potter was indicted by the grand jury on one count of kidnapping, a first degree felony, and one count of felonious assault, a second degree felony.

According to the indictment on the kidnapping charge, Potter is accused of restraining the 31-year-old victim and forcibly moving her from one room to another in attempt to force the female victim to perform oral sex.

On the felonious assault charge, she is accused of, with two others, did knowingly kick, punch and throw a hard glass object at the 31-year-old female and injected the victim with a substance, causing serious physical harm to her.

The grand jury also stated that Potter committed both offences with a sexual motivation.

The case has been moved from Sidney Municipal Court to Shelby County Common Pleas Court. She will be arraigned in Common Pleas Court at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2.

According to Sidney Police Captain Jerry Tangeman, Potter was arrested by Sgt. Sean Martin during a traffic stop in the area of North Street and Ohio Avenue around 9:28 p.m. Potter was a passenger in the vehicle which was stopped. She was taken into custody without incident.

A warrant was issued for Potter’s arrest after she was accused of holding a 31-year-old victim at 510 N. Main Ave., Apt. C, Sidney. Potter and two unidentified men were allegedly involved in the incident.

The alleged kidnapping and assault was reported Wednesday, Jan. 25, around 7:40 a.m. when the victim was able to escape from her attackers. The victim had been sleeping in a room at residence, when a male adult at the residence attempted to wake the victim asking the victim for sexual relations.

When the victim refused, an argument ensued which resulted in three people — two adult males and one adult female, later identified as Potter — at the residence physically grabbing the victim and forcibly moving the victim from the room she was sleeping into another bedroom. The victim was then threatened and physically assaulted in an attempt to compel her to comply with sex acts.

When the three suspects attempted to remove the victim from the North Main residence to go to another location, the victim was able to run away. Potter attempted to chase the victim a short distance and assaulted the victim by striking the victim on the back with her hands. The victim was able to outrun Potter running to safety.

The suspects immediately fled the residence and were not located. A search was conducted at the residence and evidence supporting the victim’s account was discovered and collected. The victim sustained several physical injuries during the assault.

All citizens are asked that if they have any information about this incident to contact the Sidney Police Department at 937-498-2351 or Crime Stoppers at 937-492-8477 (TIPS).

Potter
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/01/web1_PotterRacheal_17-1.jpgPotter

By Melanie Speicher

[email protected]

No posts to display