Local man arrested on warrant for rape

Hasty
Hasty

A Hot Springs man was arrested Thursday night on a felony warrant stemming from allegations he raped a 24-year-old woman at a local motel in March.

Eric Carnel Hasty, 34, of 613 Mountain Pine Road, was taken into custody at his residence shortly after 8:30 p.m. and charged with rape, punishable by up to life in prison. He was initially being held on zero bond and appeared via video Friday in Garland County District Court where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Judge Ralph Ohm set Hasty's bond at $75,000 and issued a court order barring him from contact with his accuser. Hasty indicated he would hire attorney Mark Fraiser to represent him. A felony review hearing is set for Aug. 5 and Ohm granted a motion by prosecutors to issue a gag order to limit pretrial publicity in the case.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on March 12, around 1:15 p.m., a woman reported to Hot Springs police she had been raped at an unknown location around 7 p.m. the night before.

After speaking to the woman, detectives were reportedly able to determine the location of the incident was a room at the Econo Lodge, 1204 Central Ave. The woman stated she had met with a friend to purchase marijuana from an unknown man they knew only as "New York."

She said she met with the man who ultimately took her to the motel to purchase the marijuana. Upon entering the motel room, a conversation took place that "quickly became sexual in nature." She said she told the man to stop several times and kept repeating she "didn't feel comfortable" and she wanted to leave.

She said she attempted to leave at one point and was forced onto the bed and raped for about one hour before the man finally stopped and took her back to her vehicle at another location.

She described "New York" as a middle-aged black male who drove a silver Chrysler 300 and she told detectives the fast food restaurant where he reportedly worked.

Detective Hunter Scott went to the restaurant and spoke with the district manager to see if anyone matching the man's description or vehicle information was employed there and was provided an employee file for Hasty.

On April 26, the alleged victim came to the police department and was shown a photo lineup. The affidavit notes she "quickly and without hesitation" picked out a photo of Hasty and identified him as the man who had raped her.

A warrant was later issued for Hasty's arrest.

Local on 06/15/2019

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