An Oklahoma man has been indicted by the Cole County Grand Jury in connection with a local rape case after the jury found there was enough evidence to send the case onto the circuit court for possible trial.
Austin Zavala, 26, Commanche, Oklahoma, is charged with one count of first-degree rape or attempted rape.
The incident occurred in May at the Candlewood Suites, 3514 Amazonas Drive.
Conviction of the felony charge carries a prison sentence of at least five years, and up to life.
Zavala was staying at the hotel and "approached the registration counter," then "jumped over the desk and grabbed the clerk," according to a Jefferson City police probable cause statement filed with the charge.
She screamed at him to stop, "but he forcefully took her to the ground (and) attempted to remove her shirt and pants," the statement said.
Police said the woman - who wasn't identified - attempted to resist but couldn't get away from him.
Instead, "Zavala covered her mouth while he violently dragged her across the floor and restrained (her) on the floor with his body," the statement continued. When Zavala allowed the woman to stand up, the front desk phone rang and a hotel guest asked if she was OK. She asked the caller for help and Zavala fled.
Zavala's roommate and co-worker identified him and reported their work truck was missing.
Police said it later was found in the 1300 block of Swifts Highway, several miles east of the hotel.
Police also reported three different guests heard the disturbance; two called 911 while the third went to the front desk to help, but Zavala already had left the building.
The victim was treated at St. Mary's Hospital.
Zavala was stopped in Kansas 13 hours after the assault and taken into custody.