01/05/06 — Local man charged in rape case

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Local man charged in rape case

By Jack Stephens
Published in News on January 5, 2006 1:52 PM

A man was charged Wednesday with raping an 11-year-old girl after he was found unconscious from an alleged drug overdose in a car parked at Wayne Memorial Park.

Investigators with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office charged Keith John Lewis, 36, with first-degree statutory rape and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the assault on the child, who is a family member.

Officers said they were called to Rhodes Drive in Dudley to investigate a report of suspected sexual assault and soon after found Lewis in a car at the cemetery on U.S. 117. Investigators said he had ingested a large amount of prescription drugs.

Lewis was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital, where he was listed today in stable condition, a hospital spokesman said.

Investigators said the girl had been bound with duct tape and assaulted soon after her mother left for work at 6 a.m.

The victim was treated and released from the hospital.

Authorities said other charges might be sought.