Security footage from inside an Annapolis home reportedly shows a man sexually assaulting a woman as she slept, according to authorities. The woman woke up early the next morning and reported the incident later that day. Police arrested 29‑year‑old Alexander Scott Lawrence of Arnold, and the case is already raising local questions about safety and how home video is used in sex‑crime investigations.
Investigators say the two first connected on Instagram and later met at the woman’s Annapolis residence, where they drank alcohol and smoked marijuana. She eventually fell asleep on her sofa at about 9:15 p.m., according to WMAR2 News. Charging documents reviewed by the station state that Lawrence left the home around 3:30 a.m. while the woman was still asleep. She woke at about 4 a.m. to find herself undressed. The woman reported the alleged assault later that day, and court records indicate Lawrence is being held without bail, with a preliminary hearing set for June 3.
According to the charging documents cited by WMAR2 News, “security camera footage from inside the home shows Lawrence raping her for several minutes as she lied motionless.” Prosecutors have charged him with raping a “helpless impaired individual,” the outlet reports.
What the charges mean
Under Maryland law, sexual activity with someone who is incapacitated or physically helpless is treated as a major felony offense. State law classifies this as a sexual offense in the second degree when the victim is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, with possible prison sentences of up to 20 years, or longer in specific situations, according to the Maryland Code. The statute outlines the elements prosecutors must establish and provides for tougher mandatory penalties in certain cases.
Help and resources
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, support is available around the clock. The YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County operates Arden House and a 24‑hour crisis hotline at 410‑222‑6800, according to the YWCA. Confidential help is also available through the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1‑800‑656‑HOPE and via online chat, per RAINN.
