BREAKING NEWS-Updated on July 23, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Updated July 23,2015 at 1:30 p.m.
A Columbus man has denied felony charges stemming from the alleged sexual and physical assault of a girl over the course of several years.
Justin McCally, 18, appeared this morning in 22nd Judicial District Court in Columbus dressed in jail clothing and handcuffed, and pleaded not guilty to felony counts of sexual assault and two counts of aggravated assault.
Public defender Greg Paskell made a courtesy appearance with McCally and told District Judge Blair Jones that McCally had hired a private attorney. That attorney had not yet notified court officials or the Stillwater County Attorney's Offices of his or her involvement and McCally could not remember the attorney's name.
Stillwater County Attorney Nancy Rohde successfully sought to keep the $250,000 bond amount in place, citing the "horrific nature" of the allegations, concern for the alleged victim's safety and the length of time over which the alleged crimes had been committed. Rohde also said there had been attempts to "thwart this investigation."
Jones concurred.
"These are very troubling allegations," said Jones. "They're as troubling as it gets."
More than 20 people filled the courtroom for the hearing, mostly girls, in support of McCally.
According to court documents, the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the Department of Public Health and Human Services (Child Protection Services) in February regarding a report of sexual and physical assaults of a minor filed by a school counselor. The victim told investigators that the assaults began when she was in the third or fourth grade and included her having her hands and mouth duct-taped at times.
McCally had "brutally tortured and used horrific acts of violence in order to keep her compliant," according to court documents. These acts of violence included McCally allegedly hitting and punching the girl in places where bruises were concealed by clothing, as well as pinning her against a wall and choking, according to court documents.
McCally would also allegedly fill a bath tub with "dangerously hot water" and hold the victim's head under, saying "this is what you deserve," according to court documents.
If McCally is able to post bail, he will be required to wear a GPS tracking unit, abide by a 9 p.m. curfew unless working and have no contact whatsoever with the victim..