Judge Barry Steelman on Thursday declined to lower the $100,000 bond of a man who has been in jail since last Oct. 9 on a rape charge.
Jay Perry, attorney for Richard Hymon Jr., said the alleged victim in the case is not cooperating with the prosecution. He called it a "he said/she said" case.
He also said police had waited until May to submit the rape kit to the TBI Crime Lab, though the incident was on Oct.
7, 2018.
Judge Steelman said one factor in keeping the bond the same was that he listened to the testimony of the alleged rape victim.
He also said that Hymon was facing a possible 8-12-year prison sentence with no probation time.
He said Hymon has few family members here after moving to East Ridge to help take care of his mother two years ago. The family is originally from Savannah, Ga.
The judge noted that Hymon had prior drug convictions and it was testified that he would supply marijuana for parties at College Hill Courts.
Hymon, 51, said he had been working as an overnight stocker at the Walmart on Gunbarrel Road after arriving here. He was arrested two days after the alleged incident.
Police had responded on Oct. 7 to a hospital to speak with a rape victim. The woman said she had been raped by Hymon at her home.
She said she invited family and friends, including Hymon, over for a few drinks. She said she began cleaning up the residence around midnight after Hymon and most of the guests had left.
She went up to her bedroom where her one-year-old child was sleeping. Her sister and cousin were still in the house.
The woman said she was awakened at the bottom of her stairs near the living room with her shorts and panties down below her knees and Hymon on top of her.
She said she was able to push Hymon back, look him in the eye, and ask, "What are you doing?"
She said Hymon never said anything as he got up, pulled up his pants and fled.
The woman said Hymon is a family friend and she had not been involved in any relationship with him.
The case is set to go to trial in January.