ANCHORAGE - Police charged an 18 year old man with a brutal sexual assault and placed his bail at $1 million.
Jessye Potts, 18, was charged with kidnapping, multiple counts of sexual assault as well as physical assault. According to police, the victim was a 17-year-old girl who considered Potts a friend.
The attack happened New Year’s Day. Potts texted the 17 year old and asked her if she wanted to join him for a walk around their Oceanview neighborhood, police said. The pair was finishing their walk and had sat down to rest when Potts suddenly turned on the teen, according to charging documents.
Potts beat her on the head, knocked her down and then bound her with duct tape, police said. At one point the victim said Potts tried to suffocate her by sitting on her head, pressing her face into the snow.
Potts sexually assaulted the girl several times before she convinced him to let her go, according to police.
“After the assault was completed she convinced the suspect to untie her,” said APD Sgt. Ken McCoy. “She pleaded with him that she would not report it, would not tell anyone and she convinced him of that. He then fled from the area and she immediately sought help from nearby residents. The police were notified and the investigation started immediately, so her quick thinking allowed her to get safely out of the situation.”
McCoy had nothing but praise for the victim who he said did everything right in horrific circumstances. She was able to show police where the suspect lived and he was arrested at his home.