Man accused of rape, trying to start fire

Dec. 5--A Medford man is being held in the Jackson County Jail on accusations he raped a woman and attacked her with a knife before trying to start a fire.

Richard Allen Ward, who turns 66 Friday, faces a string of felony charges including first-degree rape, attempted second-degree arson, second-degree assault, strangulation constituting domestic violence and first-degree sexual abuse for an alleged attack Tuesday on a woman that culminated with an attempt to start a fire on Ditch Creek Road, according to documents filed in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Jackson County sheriff's deputies arrested Ward Wednesday afternoon, jail records show.

According to charges filed Thursday by the Jackson County District Attorney's office, Ward's alleged victim -- a woman who had been in an intimate relationship with Ward at some point -- was raped and assaulted with a knife Dec. 3.

Ward also faces a felony charge of coercion and a misdemeanor charge of interfering with someone making a police report. It is alleged that Ward threatened to injure the woman if she fled a trailer where the assaults allegedly occurred.

Jackson County Circuit Court records show one prior misdemeanor domestic violence charge involving the same victim in March. The District Attorney's office dismissed that case in October on grounds prosecutors were unable to find a key witness.

On Thursday afternoon, Ward remained held in the jail on $387,500 bail.

Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or nmorgan@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MTCrimeBeat.

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