By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
An Atmore man remained behind bars this week after his September 29 arrest on numerous charges, including that he allegedly held a woman against her will for a week, sexually assaulting and torturing her during that time.
Anthony Anttwon Harris, 40, was charged by Atmore police with one count each of first-degree kidnapping, sexual torture, first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree domestic violence in connection with the incident.
“Officers were called to Atmore Community Hospital, where an assault victim reported that she had been held captive for a week by Anthony Anttwon Harris at a residence on Martin Luther King Drive,” Police Chief Chuck Brooks said. “She said she had been physically assaulted and sexually abused. She said she tried to leave, but he forced her to stay against her will.”
Harris allegedly beat the victim with his fists, a piece of wood and a crowbar, as well as sexually assaulting and torturing her before she was finally able to escape.
“He left, and she was able to get away and go to the hospital,” Brooks said. “Our officers observed that she had lacerations to her head, a black eye, a swollen face and other scrapes and bruises. When they went to the residence, they found evidence there to support her claims.”
According to Escambia County Detention Center records, bond was set at $500,000 for Harris, who was on probation for second-degree and third-degree robbery at the time of the sexual assault, but the probation violation precludes his release on bond.
He was also sentenced in March to six years in prison for felony assault, but that sentence was suspended.