A man has been taken into custody on charges of allegedly imprisoning a woman in a tent and sexually assaulting her repeatedly over a week. William Paul Thompson, aged 22, faces accusations of criminal sexual conduct and unlawful imprisonment, as per law enforcement officials.
The victim, a 21-year-old woman, reported being held against her will for a week and enduring multiple instances of sexual assault by Thompson, who was described as “homeless” and residing in a tent. She claimed that Thompson used a weapon to intimidate her during the ordeal.
Following the incident, the woman managed to escape, contacted state police, and provided information about the suspect’s possible whereabouts, leading to Thompson’s arrest after authorities found evidence supporting the victim’s statements.
Thompson, a resident of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, unlawful imprisonment, possession of a dangerous weapon with malicious intent, possession of a concealed weapon, and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to law enforcement sources.
A judge has set Thompson’s bond at $1 million (£739,000) and scheduled his next court appearance for September 11. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment for criminal sexual conduct, up to 15 years for unlawful imprisonment, and varying terms for other related charges.
In a separate incident, a woman recently escaped from a harrowing three-month abduction where she was reportedly chained, sexually assaulted, and subjected to degrading treatment. She was rescued after seeking help from a neighbor in the Czech Republic.