Lawrenceburg Man Charged With Rape

Lawrenceburg Police responded to the incident on Short Street on January 12.

Aaron E. Ashcraft. Photo by the Dearborn County Sheriff's Department. 

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - A Lawrenceburg man is facing a laundry list of charges, including rape and strangulation.

Lawrenceburg Police say Aaron E. Ashcraft, 35, is accused of attacking a woman on the 400 block of Short Street near Central Elementary School on January 12.

The victim told police that she had been living with Ashcraft for a few days and that the alleged attack occurred following a trip to Cincinnati, where Ashcraft allegedly purchased several grams of methamphetamine. 

Police say Ashcraft had to be forcibly removed from the victim. In the process, he sustained lacerations to his head. He and the victim were both transported to Highpoint Health for treatment. 

As Ashcraft was being released from the hospital and taken into custody by police, he attempted to flee down Wilson Creek Road. Police chased after him until he slipped and fell in the snow that had fallen the previous day. 

Following his arrest, police searched his Short Street apartment and vehicle, where they allegedly found a clear plastic baggie containing approximately 4.8 grams of methamphetamine, a syringe, digital scale, multiple pipes and grinders, rolled dollar bills, multiple firearms and other drug paraphernalia. 

Ashcraft is charged with Criminal Confinement (Level 5 felony), Kidnapping (Level 5 felony), Interference with the Reporting of a Crime (Class A misdemeanor), Criminal Mischief (Class B misdemeanor), Rape (Level 3 felony), Strangulation (Level 6 felony), Possession of a Syringe (Level 6 felony), Dealing in Methamphetamine at Least One Gram but Less than Five Grams While in Possession of a Firearm, Maintaining a Common Nuisance (Level 6 felony), Dealing in Marijuana (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of Paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor), Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A misdemeanor) and Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 felony). 

He is held in the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center on $250,000 cash only and $250,000 surety bond. 

Ashcraft is scheduled fro a pre-trial hearing on February 13.