Man charged with raping woman

A Kearns man has been charged with raping and beating a woman in the garage of her friend's house.

Melvin Leon Redmond, 33, was charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree felony. The victim told police Redmond had sexual intercourse with her without her consent and punched her several times when she told him to stop.

She immediately ran inside the house near 5800 South and 6200 West and told her friends what had happened and the police were then called, according to the charges. The woman later identified Redmond in a photo lineup.

Redmond pleaded guilty to simple assault in 2005, court records show. He also pleaded guilty to several thefts and burglaries between 1995 and 1998.

— Paul Koepp