Prosecutors won't charge man with rape after accusation on Wednesday
The suspect arrested Wednesday evening after a Pittsfield Township woman reported she was raped on a picnic table near their home will not be charged, according to police.
Pittsfield Township police said Thursday that Washtenaw County prosecutors decided not to pursue charges against the 32-year-old man who was arrested Wednesday.
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie and Washtenaw County Deputy Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller did not immediately return calls.
Police said Wednesday that the 19-year-old woman and 32-year-old man were sitting on a picnic table near Crystal Drive and Packard Road. The woman reported that the man asked her for sex and she denied his request, according to police.
Police said the man was accused of raping her immediately afterwards.
The man and woman are known to each other and live together at a residence near the area, police said. The woman went back to her home and called police, who responded to the home and arrested the man, according to police.
The man was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail Wednesday and the woman was taken to an area hospital.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
bcox
Fri, Dec 9, 2011 : 1:39 a.m.
This is an example of rushed reporting, Kyle. I'm not sure it's advised to report what the "police" told you the prosecutor's office told them. WHO at the police department told you? Why did you only identify them as "police"? Who told the police? Why are no charges being filed? I know there is pressure to post quickly but it shouldn't result in poor reporting. Wait until you have the details and the sources lined up and then tell us what happened. You should never have to post AFTER a story that you're trying to get in touch with the original source. Otherwise it comes across as if you're reporting rumor, which isn't reporting at all. It's gossiping.
bcox
Sat, Dec 10, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
Kyle - Thanks for the clarification. I suppose I'm old school because I am still not clear why a story of this nature would be written with just vague information from the police press report. I get that you could not reach Hiller or Mackie, but then why not refrain from posting an update until you had more facts? The story doesn't answer the first question readers have: WHY are no charges being filed? Why would you post the story before you had an answer to that question? Perhaps this is the way of new journalism; I suspect that this story would have been too slight on facts to run in a print version of the paper (I would hope that, at least). My main point, I guess, is that this is a serious story that should be treated seriously and with vigorous reporting. I don't think posting the story piece-meal is the best way to approach it.
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Dec 9, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.
bcox - All of the information about prosecutors not pressing charges came from a police press report released on Thursday. I made repeated calls to Steve Hiller and Brian Mackie yesterday and none of them were returned, which is why I wasn't able to say exactly why charges were not pursued. In the story, I wrote that I had attempted to get in touch with them, and the post earlier in this comment thread was meant to assure the readers that I was still attempting. I never heard back from them yesterday.
Michael K.
Fri, Dec 9, 2011 : midnight
At 19, depending on her cognition, she may or may not know what "sex" or "rape really is. If she was upset, and someone asked what happened, they may have leap to conclusions. Perhaps not. Everyone has the right to say no. But my wife is a social worker, and there are many levels of "function" in various communities.
captain_k
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
even if you are in a relationship, you're allowed to say no! it's still rape.
Joe_Citizen
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 10:39 p.m.
Seeing this took place in a group home, it is safe to say that they are both mentally challenged. With this in mind, you might see where this could lead too. Both being this way they may not be able to testify because of their illnesses, and this can be foreseen as a mistrial. Because of their illnesses there is no way to have a fare trial. Now I don't know but this is my best guess why they are not proceeding. On the other hand the rape test may have came up negative, and then it becomes heads up in court and with their mental illness it can only be bad for all involved.
Michael K.
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
Perhaps a physical exam showed no signs of recent sexual activity? Hard to speculate. Do many types of people, good, bad, struggling, or even delusional. And we know very little.
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
I've been playing phone tag with Mr. Hiller and I'm trying to get a hold of him to speak about this case.
treetowncartel
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
One key fact that was left out of today's sensationalism is that the residence they lived in together was a group home. Quite possibly, one,or both of them, may have a mental illness or diminished cognition, which could be part of the reasoning behind the decision to not go forward with the charges.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
maybe the whole (non?)event was taped by nearby cell phones, and i pads (2nd generation of course).
trespass
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
I would like to see the statistics on how many complaints are actually charged by Brian Mackie. I have heard that it is a very low percentage. That kind of statistic would help me when it comes time to vote for County Prosecutor.
James
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 8:22 p.m.
Do you have knowledge as to how many should have been charged? Anyone can file a comlaint. Thanks for being another "informed" voter.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.
And if she wasn't lying, what the heck is the deal here? I'm interesting in finding out what kind of residence they were living in. There must be extenuating circumstances here...I hope.
Roadman
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
Anyone who is involved with the prosecution or defense of these cases can tell you they are difficult to prove and Brian Mackie's office has been burned before with dubious alleged "victims" where serious felony criminal sexual conduct charges are dropped and defendants quietly released from the county jail. County Prosecutor Brian Mackie is likely doing the right thing here. For once.
jcj
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
This is the kind of nonsense that causes doubts too often in rape cases. IF she was lying I hope they prosecute her!
grye
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
Live together or live together in a relationship? Big difference. Too bad the police / prosecutors do not provide significant information to be reported.
Joe_Citizen
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
The last report was that they live in a group home together.