Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Two Charged In Woman's Attack

Two suspects have been arrested and charged in the assault and rape of a 68-year-old Prescott woman.

DeChay Wilson, 19, and Jared Woodley, 16, both of Prescott, were taken before 8th Judicial District Judge Jim Gunter Thursday, April 25, where they were read their rights and formally charged.

The pair was charged with residential burglary, aggravated robbery, theft of property and rape in conjunction with the April 20 attack on a 68-year-old Prescott woman.

Both informed the court they would get their own attorneys, but neither entered a plea at the time.

Residential burglary carries a sentence of 5-20 years in prison, while rape is a class Y felony with a 10-40 years or life in prison. Aggravated robbery, also a felony, has a 20 year sentence and a fine up to $1,000. The theft of property charge was the lone misdemeanor the theft was less than $500.

Eighth Judicial District Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Danny Rodgers asked the court to consider charging Wilson as a habitual criminal because of his past criminal record, and the fact he was on parole at the time of the crime.

Bail was denied both suspects, who are being held in the Nevada County Jail.

According to reports from the Prescott Police Department, Sgt. Walt DeYoung was the first officer on the scene after being notified by the man who found the woman.

DeYoung went to the scene around 1:20 a.m. Sunday and talked with the victim.

She told him she came home around 10 p.m. Saturday and was sitting on her couch when two black males came out of her dining room and demanded money.

The two ransacked the house, taking about $50 from her purse.

She told the officer the two threw a blanket over her head and raped her on the couch as well.

The victim was taken to Medical Park Hospital in Hope by her daughter-in-law.

An officer remained at the scene until Arkansas State Police criminal investigator Scott Clark arrived and took control.

According to PPD Chief Willie Latin's report, the two threatened the woman with a knife, and wore stocking masks.

The PPD, ASP and Jim Westmoreland, criminal investigator with the PPD and Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

Latin was able to come up with a tip which eventually led to Woodley and Wilson being picked up and taken to the PPD for questioning.

Woodley was initially questioned in the presence of his mother, but later spoke with officers alone.

Westmoreland made sure the interview was recorded on audio tape.

The two will return to court on May 9 in Hempstead County to enter pleas with their attorneys.

Nevada County Sheriff Harold Vines, with help from deputies with the Hempstead and Lafayette county Sheriff's Offices, along with members of the NCSO, were able to apprehend Benjamin Perkins, who escaped from the Nevada County Jail April 14.

Vines said the NCSO had been tipped off by Perkins' family about him being hidden out at a deer camp in northern Lafayette County.

Vines said deputies went to the site and arrested Perkins with no incident. The arrest was made around dark Friday, April 26.

Perkins was originally arrested on two counts of theft of property over $2,500 for stealing two vehicles.

Now, he faces charges of escape as well, with possibly a third theft over $2,500 charge because a vehicle believed to have been stolen in Hempstead County was at the camp.

Vines said a second suspect could be arrested in the case and charged with assisting in the escape.

Perkins managed to escape by climbing over the fence in the exercise yard.

Westmoreland reminds the public with the weather warming up personal safety measures need to be stepped up as well.

He said doors in houses should remain locked even when someone is home.

Westmoreland suggested keeping windows locked when not at home and making sure valuables are not left in plain sight in vehicles.

Additionally, vehicles should have the keys removed and doors locked.

Westmoreland asks the public to report suspicious looking and acting people to the proper authorities.