Accused Columbus rapist held for grand jury
NORWICH – A man arrested of forcibly raping a woman appeared in Norwich Town Court Thursday for a felony hearing. Town of Norwich Justice David J. Evans ordered Lance Jeff Mills to be held for Chenango County grand jury. Evans ruled in the hearing that there was sufficient evidence to force Mills to appear for possible indictment.
The New York State Police arrested Mills, of Columbus, on Sunday, March 25, and charged him with first degree rape, a class B felony, and predatory sexual assault, a class A-II felony.
Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee called two witnesses, one of whom was the victim herself and the other was New York State Police Investigator Jamie Bell. Mills’ defense attorney, James G. Cushman, called no witnesses. Dunshee declined to comment, saying he did not wish to prejudice a possible jury but did say, “We felt the hearing went very well.”
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