Pinellas Park police are investigating an incident on Christmas afternoon that led to a short police standoff.
The 37-year-old man allegedly sexually assaulted his 30-year-old wife after an altercation at their home around 11:30 a.m.
Pinellas Park police say the man and his wife have been separated for about three months, and they were reportedly having a verbal argument.
The man allegedly struck the victim with his hand, smashed her phone and then sexually assaulted her.
She quickly left the apartment with a juvenile who was visiting the home and called police.
Pinellas Park police say the man later drank insect poison and used a knife to cut him arms.
Authorities say that when police arrived, the man had barricaded himself inside the apartment and allegedly refused to surrender. SWAT officers were called, but a Patrol Sergeant was able to talk the man into peacefully surrendering.
The man has been booked into Pinellas County Jail and is charged with aggravated assault, sexual battery and criminal mischief.
Rape within the marriage is classified as a crime in Florida. From a legal standpoint, spousal rape occurs if there is force involved. This means that the spouse was physically overpowered during the sexual encounter. Cases involving spousal rape are often accompanied by domestic violence charges and can be complicated, so it’s a good idea to speak with a Florida Spousal Rape Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible after your arrest.
A lot of people think that rape within a marriage cannot happen, but it can. Just because you are married, that doesn’t mean you have the right to sexually assault or rape the other person. Every case is different, but if you’re convicted of spousal rape, you face harsh penalties, including prison time and registration as a sex offender.
While spousal rape is not talked about as much as other sexual crimes, these charges can and do occur. If you have been arrested for spousal rape or any other sex crimes charge, call our Florida Sex Crimes Lawyers at Whittel & Melton at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for an immediate free consultation.