Trial dates set for accused rapist

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Two trial dates have been set for a Delaware man accused of raping a local woman and later assaulting a corrections officer at the Delaware County Jail.

Shawn A. Harrel, 40, of 84 Scottwood Court, Delaware, was in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Wednesday afternoon for two arraignments in connection with two different incidents.

He was indicted by a Delaware County grand jury on three counts of rape with a sexually violent predator specification, which are first-degree felonies, on July 17. After he was jailed, he indicted again on July 24 on a count of harassment by inmate and a charge of vandalism, which are both fifth-degree felonies.

Harrel’s attorney, Scott Wolf, entered a not-guilty plea to all the charges.

The county’s first assistant prosecutor, Kyle Rohrer, described the rape incident to Judge Everett Krueger Wednesday afternoon. On the morning of July 9, prosecutors allege, Harrel went to the home of a woman he had only known for a week and forced her to perform sex acts with him before leaving. Rohrer said that although Harrel and the woman had had sex twice in the week they had known each other, she resisted and said no to Harrel’s advances on July 9.

While Harrel was incarcerated at the Delaware County Jail, he became agitated during a health checkup and began to throw medical equipment at jail personnel. When corrections officers attempted to restrain him, he attempted to kick at them and spit in correction officer Joshua Young’s face. Young reported saliva had gotten inside his mouth and he was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for a checkup.

Harrel had previously appeared in Delaware Municipal Court on July 10 where Judge David Sunderman set his bond at $300,000.

Krueger continued the $300,000 bond that was set in municipal court and scheduled the rape trial for Oct. 13 and the assault trial for Oct. 22.

Harrel, a sex offender registered with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, was convicted of gross sexual imposition in 1999 and was ordered to register as a sex offender and serve 15 months in prison.

The sexually violent predator specification could add between 10 years to life in prison if Harrel is convicted on the rape charges.

Harrel also has prior convictions in Delaware County Common Pleas Court for unlawful sexual conduct, burglary and receiving stolen property.

Harrel
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/07/web1_Shawn-Harrel2.jpgHarrel Courtesy photo | The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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