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Jury to resume deliberations in Catoosa County, Ga., rape, kidnapping case

James Leon Works Jr., an accused rapist, appears before Judge Barry A Steelman on the third floor of the Hamilton County Courthouse on September 25, 2014. Chattanooga police officer Karl Fields investigated the crime and was put on administrative leave after the alleged victim told the district attorney's office that Fields tried to have a sexual relationship with her while he investigated the crime.
James Leon Works Jr., an accused rapist, appears before Judge Barry A Steelman on the third floor of the Hamilton County Courthouse on September 25, 2014. Chattanooga police officer Karl Fields investigated the crime and was put on administrative leave after the alleged victim told the district attorney's office that Fields tried to have a sexual relationship with her while he investigated the crime. James Leon Works Jr., an accused rapist, appears before Judge Barry A Steelman on the third floor of the Hamilton County Courthouse on September 25, 2014. Chattanooga police officer Karl Fields investigated the crime and was put on administrative leave after the alleged victim told the district attorney's office that Fields tried to have a sexual relationship with her while he investigated the crime.

By Tyler Jett 4 min read

RINGGOLD, Ga. – Jurors will resume deliberating in the rape and kidnapping trial of James Leon Works Jr. this morning.

The group began contemplating the 22 charges against Works – which also include aggravated sodomy, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and possession of a knife or gun in the commission of a crime – around 4 p.m. Monday. Judge Kristina Cook Graham sent them home for the day after about an hour.

Charges against James Leon Works Jr.

› Three counts of rape› Eight counts of aggravated sodomy› Four counts of aggravated assault› Five counts of possession of a firearm or knife in the commission of a crime› Kidnapping› False imprisonment

An ex-girlfriend has accused Works of holding her against her will at his uncle’s Fort Oglethorpe home for about three days in December 2015. She said he beat her, had sex with her against her will and forced her to remain nude.

The woman also accused Works of kidnapping and rape in a Chattanooga hotel in 2014. But weeks after she made the accusation, she said Chattanooga police Detective Karl Fields pursued a sexual relationship with her. Fields was fired, and Works pleaded guilty to reduced charges, allowing him to leave after spending about 13 months in jail.