SKOWHEGAN — A resident of the men’s homeless shelter on McClellan Street was arrested late Monday night on felony charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact after allegedly assaulting a woman on Pooler Avenue in Skowhegan.
Rodney Horning, 41, allegedly sexually assaulted a 39-year-old woman and prevented her from yelling or calling for help, police said Tuesday. Detective Sgt. Josh King of the Skowhegan Police Department said the alleged victim is a family member, but would not identify her further. The Morning Sentinel does not name alleged victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.
The charge of gross sexual assault is a Class A crime, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The unlawful sexual contact charge is punishable with a conviction in Maine of up to 10 years in prison.
King said Officer CJ Viera took the initial report earlier Monday and conducted the investigation with King.
King said Horning is originally from Pennsylvania, but he didn’t know how long Horning had been living at the men’s homeless shelter in Skowhegan, which is operated by Trinity Evangelical Free Church.
Rev. Richard Berry, pastor of the church that runs the shelter, said Horning who recently was laid off from his job. Berry said Horning doesn’t drink to excess or do drugs and he was surprised to learn of the charges against him. He said Horning will not be allowed back at the shelter unless he is cleared of the charges.
“Rodney has been with us a couple of times over the years and never been a problem and never bothered anybody,” he said. “This came as a real shocker to me.”
Berry said Horning worked selling sheds outside the Wal-Mart store in Skowhegan until his lay-off recently. He said Horning spent his days looking for work and would stay at the shelter at night.
The alleged victim was treated at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan with non-life threatening injuries. King said the woman had bruises on her face in an apparent violent assault. He said more charges, including obstructing the report of a crime, could be added against Horning after the Somerset County District Attorney’s office reviews the case.
Horning was arrested and booked at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison. He is being held without bail pending his first court appearance.
Anyone who is a victim of sexual violence can call the Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center at 1-800-871-7741.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
Twitter:@Doug_Harlow
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