Man accused of assaulting woman and locking her in trunk to return to court

By Kyle Feldscher Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Sat, Jun 2, 2012 : 12:25 p.m.

The man accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman before tying her up in an Ypsilanti Township home and locking her in a trunk of a car will return to court next month.

David Neal

Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office

David Neal, 38, was in court for a preliminary examination Tuesday. That hearing was adjourned until 8:30 a.m. June 19, according to jail records.

Neal faces two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count each of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful imprisonment and interfering with the report of a crime.

According to deputies, Neal and a woman were alone together at a home on May 17 in the 1300 block of Nash Avenue when he physically and sexually assaulted her. Neal assaulted her several times over the course of a number of hours, according to deputies.

After originally tying the woman up in the home, Neal moved her into the trunk of a car in the home’s driveway, deputies said. She stayed there for several hours before managing to escape.

Deputies responded to the area after neighbors called 911, prompted by the escaped woman’s screams. Neal was arrested at the residence.

The woman was treated for non-life threatening injuries and taken to an area hospital.

Neal is still lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail and is being held without bond. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life in prison.