Champaign man ordered held in jail after being charged with rape

Apr. 26—URBANA — A Champaign man was charged this week with wielding a firearm while sexually assaulting a woman outside a house in northwest Champaign last month.

Champaign County Judge Brett Olmstead ruled that Eugene Joiner Jr., 25, must await his pending trial in jail after he was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a firearm and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault causing bodily harm.

Assistant State's Attorney Eileen Keeley said a woman contacted Champaign police on March 17 to report she had been sexually assaulted and struck on the head with a firearm.

The woman allegedly told police that approximately two weeks earlier, she had gone on a date and had consensual sex with Joiner. Afterward, Joiner sent her multiple Cash App requests regarding money for an abortion, the woman told police.

On March 17, the woman was at home in northwest Champaign with another male friend when she heard a noise outside. She looked outside and allegedly found Joiner, who seemed fixated on her being pregnant and indicated that she owed him $500 for an abortion.

Joiner wanted to walk with the woman to a gas station, so the two went to two different gas stations and a hotel, but both were closed, she told police.

On the way back to the woman's house, Joiner allegedly told her he already had two kids with different women. Eventually, Joiner forced the woman to move by grabbing her hand and pulling her down the road, she later told police.

Keeley said the woman reported that Joiner led her to a squatter's house and tried to open the window but couldn't. Joiner then allegedly pushed her against the window and sexually assaulted her while wearing a condom.

The woman told police that she said, "No," and tried to get up multiple times, but Joiner pulled out an "Uzi-style gun" from his jacket and struck her on the head twice, Keeley said.

The woman had a two-inch cut on her head, completed a sexual-assault kit at Carle Foundation Hospital and showed officers a security video from her house that allegedly showed Joiner outside it on March 17.

The woman called police again on Thursday to report that she had been walking outside when she noticed Joiner in the same area, Keeley said.

The woman apparently told police that Joiner walked up to her, asked if she was OK but eventually threatened to kill her, so she pulled a knife out of her purse. Later, police located Joiner in the area, Keeley said.

Joiner first told officers that he did not know the woman, before he allegedly indicated that she was familiar and admitted they had a one-night stand. But Joiner denied going to her house, walking to a gas station, sexually assaulting her or having sex with anyone outside.

Arguing that Joiner that should await his pending trial in jail, Keeley said there is "ample evidence" that the woman was a victim and afraid of Joiner, as she got out a knife when she saw him and completed a hospital sexual assault kit. The prosecutor also noted Joiner has a history of violating probation conditions.

Arguing that Joiner should not be detained, Public Defender Peter Ladwein noted that his client is a lifetime Champaign resident with a young son, and he lives approximately one mile away from the alleged woman, so it's possible he ran into her by chance on April 18.

Ladwein also highlighted a statement the woman gave to police on March 17, in which she allegedly said Joiner asked her to give him oral sex, but she said no because he was not going to reciprocate.

Olmstead noted no gun has been recovered connected to the incident and that though Joiner admitted to having sex with the alleged victim, he has not admitted to any violence.

But the judge said the woman's cut on her head, the fact she called police the same day the alleged assault happened and a video shows Joiner outside her house on March 17 provides initial corroboration with her account of what happened.

Joiner was also on probation when he was arrested and has three prior felony convictions.

Joiner faces six to 30 years in prison if convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony. He is next scheduled to appear in court in May.