A 45-year-old Louisville man is facing a stack of violent felony charges after police say he dragged a woman into his apartment, held a knife to her throat, and raped her. Durand Hampton was arrested early Thursday morning. The woman, who knew Hampton, was transported to a local hospital.
According to WHAS11, the victim told police that Hampton grabbed her and pulled her into his apartment, then locked the door behind her. Per the arrest citation, Hampton forced her to kiss him, and the victim bit his tongue hard enough to cause damage during the struggle. Police say Hampton then held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she refused to perform sexual acts, strangling her before the rape occurred, according to the arrest citation.
Hampton is now charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, first-degree strangulation, second-degree assault, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and tampering with physical evidence. Officers say Hampton told them he had put the knife in the bathroom trash after he spotted police arriving at the scene, a detail that forms the basis of the tampering charge, per the same report.
What The Charges Could Mean Under Kentucky Law
The severity of the allegations corresponds to some of the state's toughest statutory penalties. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 510.040, first-degree rape is classified as a Class B felony punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison, but the charge escalates to a Class A felony carrying 20 to 50 years or life imprisonment if the victim suffers a serious physical injury, according to WomensLaw.org.
The strangulation charge against Hampton falls under Kentucky's first-degree strangulation statute, KRS 508.170, which classifies the offense as a Class C felony, per the Alliance for HOPE International.
Booking And Upcoming Arraignment
Hampton was detained by police and is being held at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, according to WHAS11.
He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Friday.
It is worth noting that the allegations against Hampton remain accusations laid out in an arrest citation and have not yet been tested in court.
Resources For Survivors In Jefferson County
Survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence in Jefferson County can access confidential 24/7 crisis counseling, emergency shelter, and legal advocacy through The Center for Women and Families.
