Lawyer: Woman Sleepwalking During Alleged Rape

[almaty 19]

CINCINNATI -- A lawyer for the man accused of raping a University of Cincinnati student said the encounter could have been consensual because the woman has a history of sleepwalking.

Dexter Ford, 52, is charged with raping the 23-year-old woman early Thursday morning near Interstate 71 in Cincinnati.

Ford's lawyer, Jeff Adams, said prosecutors told him the woman takes prescription medication and has a sleepwalking condition, a fact that will likely be the core part of Ford's defense.

"It goes to consent," he said. "How is he to know she is sleepwalking, if it's a dream 'yes' or a real 'yes?' "

Adams has not said if Ford spoke to the woman and whether she consented to sex. Messages seeking comment were left with Adams on Saturday.

Two passing motorists reported seeing Ford on top of a woman near a White Castle restaurant on Taft Road near I-71, and called police from their cell phones, Cincinnati police said.

When police arrived, the woman was still asleep, according to police reports. She was taken to University Hospital for treatment.

Hamilton County Municipal Judge Fanon Rucker said he also was told the victim sleepwalked through the encounter.

Rucker set bond for $500,000 and ordered Ford to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Ford told police he is HIV-positive, Rucker said.

During the past 15 years Ford, who is currently homeless, has served time in the Hamilton County jail and state prisons on charges including aggravated arson, breaking and entering, possession of illegal drug paraphernalia, theft and trespassing, court records showed.

Sleep medicines such as Lunesta and Ambien have been reported to cause sleepwalking in patients, said Dr. James Knepler, who specializes in sleep disorders at the University of Cincinnati's Comprehensive Medicine Center.

Sleepwalkers typically look like they are in a daze, and may not respond to outside stimuli, he said.

[JODO 2]

death penalty

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This is why homeless people need to be locked up and put to work. With all the prisoners this country has and could potentially have (under my plan), we don't really need Mexican labor.

[Amby 490]

I wonder how far she was from her home? Sleepwalking is really dangerous.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Scary.

[reeses16 8]

Does anyone know if they would give her medication to prevent HIV infection since her rapist is HIV+? I know health care workers get preventitive medications (to reduce the likelihood of becoming infected) if they have a needle stick at work, but what about rape victims? I've always wondered about this....

[Jasman0717 9]

Rape is rape, throw the book at him

[Boblop 0]

CINCINNATI -- A lawyer for the man accused of raping a University of Cincinnati student said the encounter could have been consensual because the woman has a history of sleepwalking.

Dexter Ford, 52, is charged with raping the 23-year-old woman early Thursday morning near Interstate 71 in Cincinnati.

Ford's lawyer, Jeff Adams, said prosecutors told him the woman takes prescription medication and has a sleepwalking condition, a fact that will likely be the core part of Ford's defense.

"It goes to consent," he said. "How is he to know she is sleepwalking, if it's a dream 'yes' or a real 'yes?' "

Adams has not said if Ford spoke to the woman and whether she consented to sex. Messages seeking comment were left with Adams on Saturday.

Two passing motorists reported seeing Ford on top of a woman near a White Castle restaurant on Taft Road near I-71, and called police from their cell phones, Cincinnati police said.

When police arrived, the woman was still asleep, according to police reports. She was taken to University Hospital for treatment.

Hamilton County Municipal Judge Fanon Rucker said he also was told the victim sleepwalked through the encounter.

Rucker set bond for $500,000 and ordered Ford to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Ford told police he is HIV-positive, Rucker said.

During the past 15 years Ford, who is currently homeless, has served time in the Hamilton County jail and state prisons on charges including aggravated arson, breaking and entering, possession of illegal drug paraphernalia, theft and trespassing, court records showed.

Sleep medicines such as Lunesta and Ambien have been reported to cause sleepwalking in patients, said Dr. James Knepler, who specializes in sleep disorders at the University of Cincinnati's Comprehensive Medicine Center.

Sleepwalkers typically look like they are in a daze, and may not respond to outside stimuli, he said.

If she took Lunesta and Ambien as a hit, you must acquit!

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't get it as a defence. If you have sex with someone who doesn't respond to normal stimulus then surely at best you are making a huge assumption that you have obtained consent? I suppose the other side of the coin is that the woman did consent and later decided to make up this sleep walking story as a convenient defense.

It sounds very, very dubious to me at this time though.

[Ban Hammer 13,633]

I don't get it as a defence. If you have sex with someone who doesn't respond to normal stimulus then surely at best you are making a huge assumption that you have obtained consent? I suppose the other side of the coin is that the woman did consent and later decided to make up this sleep walking story as a convenient defense.

It sounds very, very dubious to me at this time though.

sounds like a couple that's been married more than 10 years