Welcome to Arrest Stories. A twenty-two-year-old homeless man in Mount Pleasant stands accused of holding a woman captive in his tent for an entire week, repeatedly assaulting her at weapon-point before she managed to escape and alert authorities. Here's what may have happened.
On Saturday, August thirtieth, state troopers responded to a business in Union Township after a woman walked in with a horrifying tale of survival. According to police reports, the victim told authorities she had been held captive for seven days inside a tent by a homeless man who repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
The woman described how her captor used a weapon to threaten her and force her into sexual acts throughout her week-long ordeal. She provided investigators with detailed descriptions of her alleged attacker and his possible location, information that would prove crucial to the investigation.
Acting on the victim's account, troopers launched an immediate search and located evidence that supported her statements. The investigation led them to William Paul Thompson, a twenty-two-year-old homeless man living in the tent where the alleged crimes took place.
Thompson now faces a serious array of charges stemming from the incident. He has been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, unlawful imprisonment, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, carrying a concealed weapon, and felonious assault with a dangerous weapon.
The victim's escape on that Saturday marked the end of what authorities describe as a week of terror. After fleeing the tent, she immediately sought help at the Mount Pleasant business, where employees contacted law enforcement.
Thompson was arraigned in Isabella County Court on September second, just days after the victim's brave escape. The Michigan State Police released details of the case on September third, highlighting the swift police response and investigation.
The charges Thompson faces carry severe penalties, particularly the first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge, which represents one of the most serious felony offenses in the state.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.
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