CINCINNATI -- A Bond Hill man was charged with rape, kidnapping and felonious assault after a brutal assault on a victim, according to Hamilton County authorities.
Court documents said that Shannon Merritt, 46, was arrested March 3 after threatening and injuring his victim during a sexual assault. According to a news release from the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, Merritt left his victim with skeletal fractures, lacerations to the head, face and body as well as bite marks on the inner thighs and back.
"This is an atrocity," said Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters. "How anyone could do this to another human being is mind-boggling … and it borders on barbaric."
Deters said the victim attempted to flee from Merritt multiple times during and after the attack, but was forced back into his residence. That victim, he said, had to wait until Merritt fell asleep to call 911.
In total, Merritt faces five charges connected to the incident: felonious assault, rape, attempted rape, kidnapping and abduction. If convicted, he could face more than 40 years in prison.
Merritt has previously been charged with assault twice in Hamilton County.
