LONGVIEW — A victim of sexual assault was arrested last week and ordered to show up in court to help Cowlitz County prosecutors prove the case against her alleged abusers.
The Longview Daily News reports the 43-year-old woman spent one night in jail after being arrested under a material witness warrant. She had not been showing up for pre-trial meetings with prosecutors despite promising to do so.
The little-used procedure allows police to arrest a witness of a crime to ensure they show up for court. Chief Criminal Deputy James Smith says such warrants are rare and requested only “as a last resort.”
Court documents allege the woman’s ex-boyfriend, Brandt Jensen, taped her to a chair and ordered her to perform sexual favors for another man, Donald McElfish. McElfish is scheduled to be tried March 10 on attempted rape, kidnapping and others charges.
