Man Faces 3 Felonies in Lake Elmo Kidnapping, Sexual Assault
A New Auburn man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly holding a Lake Elmo woman against her will while physically and sexually assaulting her for over 24 hours.
David Powers, 35, is charged with 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and domestic assault by strangulation, all felonies.
According to the criminal complaint, Washington County deputies received a call to conduct a welfare check at an apartment on the 9500 block of Hudson Blvd. in Lake Elmo just before 9 a.m. Tuesday. The caller reported that the woman at the residence had not shown up for work that day and was not answering the phone.
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Deputies arrived at the apartment and saw a woman screaming for help while desperately trying to open an upper-level window. A male was seen pulling the woman away from the window shortly after. Deputies forced entry into the apartment and detained Powers. Deputies located the victim, who had significant injuries to her neck, forearm and hands.
The victim told deputies that Powers had been staying wither her at the apartment for a few weeks. After attending a soccer game on Sunday, they got into an argument and the victim stayed at a friend’s house that night. The victim returned home the next morning and said that Powers “snapped,” and began to physically assault her. During the attack, the victim was also sexually assaulted, the documents said. Throughout the morning, Powers repeatedly threatened to kill her and destroyed property throughout the apartment.
The victim told deputies that she tried to escape, but Powers physically prevented her from leaving the apartment. Powers told the victim at one point if she got anywhere near the stairs, he would push her down.
Powers, AKA David Robekevich, was charged with attempted 2nd-degree murder and domestic assault by strangulation in another incident back in 2013. As part of an apparent plea deal, Powers was convicted of the lesser domestic assault and sentenced to only eight months in jail.
Powers remains jailed on the new charges and with $500,000 bail. His next court appearance is on May 16. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case and anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 651-430-7818.
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