Holton man faces several felony counts
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A call for help last week has had police investigating a brutal attack on a Holton woman and has landed Christopher George, 26, of Holton, in jail.

The call came in about 10:45 p.m. on September 14, to the Ripley County Communications Center. An immediate investigation was launched by Holton Town Marshal Billey Moore and Sgt. Marvin Smith of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department.

Police found the victim had been beaten and there were numerous visible injuries and trauma to her face and neck area as a result of the attack. She was taken to Margaret Mary Community Hospital where she was hospitalized. She has since been released.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 15, Christopher George was taken into custody and further charged with several felony counts relating to the incident.

Prosecutor Ric Hertel formally charged George on September 16, with Aggravated Battery, a Class B Felony; Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Class C Felony; Rape, a Class B Felony; Criminal Deviate Conduct, a Class B Felony. The prosecutor noted that a Class B Felony charge can carry up to 20 years imprisonment and a Class C Felony carried up to 8 years.

George's bond was set in Ripley County Circuit Court on Monday, September 20, for $50,000, meaning he will need $5,000 to get out of jail. He was also instructed to have no contact with the victim. He is presently incarcerated at the Ripley County Jail.

Prosecutor Hertel made reference to the "professionalism and cooperative efforts of Marshal Moore, Sgt. Smith and ISP Crime Scene Technician Rob Ewing. An understanding of these sorts of cases and their volatile nature is critical to each investigation," he noted.

Hertel concluded that October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this case shows the stark reality of this sort of violence in our own community.

A trial by jury has been set for February 2005 for George.