On December 15, 34-year-old Timothy Ryan Lawson of Poss Road, Smithville, was arrested for five counts of aggravated rape, interference with emergency calls, aggravated assault, and especially aggravated kidnapping. He is under a $529,500 bond, and is due in court on January 7.

On December 14, a sheriff’s department detective responded to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital on a report of a possible rape. Upon arrival, the detective made contact with the victim who stated that the previous evening, Lawson displayed a large knife and told her that she was to have sex with him and do as he asked, or he would kill her.

The man took the victim’s phone, and caused the victim to believed that if she attempted to call for help it would place her in fear of serious bodily injury or death. Authorities say the man then raped the victim a total of five times until the morning of December 14.

In other news, on December 17, 55-year-old Jeffery Lee Bates of Old West Point Road, Smithville, was arrested for public intoxication. He is under a $2,000 bond and he will be in court on January 9.

A deputy was patrolling outbound on Sparta Highway, when he observed a male subject wearing a black jacket standing on the left side of the highway. The deputy turned around and made contact with Bates, who reportedly admitted to having a few beers, and had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Bates also allegedly had red, watery, bloodshot eyes, and was unable to focus on a conversation.