A late-night encounter at a Linthicum Heights motel has landed a Baltimore man in serious legal trouble after a woman who identified herself as a sex worker told police she was brutally attacked in June. Prosecutors say court records describe a violent scene that included punching, choking and an order to have unprotected sex. A grand jury has since elevated the case to Anne Arundel Circuit Court with a formal indictment.
According to court records, Rodney Devon Butler Jr., 30, has been held without bond since his July 2 arrest and now faces a 13-count indictment that includes eight felonies, among them first-degree rape and robbery, as reported by WBFF. He is scheduled for an initial hearing on July 27 in Anne Arundel Circuit Court. As of Monday afternoon, reporting indicates Butler did not have an attorney listed in court records.
How prosecutors say the attack unfolded
Charging documents state that Anne Arundel County officers were called out shortly after 10 p.m. on June 8 to a Red Roof Inn in Linthicum Heights after a 911 caller reported a woman "yelling for help." The woman, who identified herself to investigators as a sex worker, told police that a man who responded to an online ad punched her in the face, choked her from behind and ordered her to have unprotected sex, according to The Baltimore Sun.
Nearby cases and local concern
Prosecutors say this case fits into a worrying pattern of violence tied to motel rooms and online ads in Anne Arundel County. The Office of the State's Attorney previously secured a conviction in a separate Linthicum motel rape case in 2023, according to a press release from the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office. That earlier case, prosecutors noted, underscored their concern that offenders use motel rooms to target vulnerable people who arrange work online.
Charges and what they carry
Under Maryland law, first-degree rape is a felony that can carry a sentence of up to life in prison, and certain circumstances can trigger mandatory minimum sentences under state statute. Robbery and related violent offenses are classified as crimes of violence and can bring lengthy prison terms under Maryland code, with prosecutors able to seek enhanced penalties depending on factors such as weapons, injuries or prior convictions.
Butler remains held without bond as the case heads toward its initial hearing on July 27, according to WBFF. Anyone affected by sexual violence or in need of support navigating the court process can contact the Office of the State's Attorney Victim‑Witness Services at (410) 222-1740 for advocacy, accompaniment and resources, according to the office's website.
