An accused rapist wanted for another string of violent charges against his ex-girlfriend was arrested today.
According to a news release from East Ridge police, officers caught James Leon Works in the 900 Block of East Avenue in Chattanooga. Works was wanted out of East Ridge on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping. East Ridge police have been searching for Works since Dec. 24.
His ex-girlfriend told officers that Works took her from where she worked one day in December, brought her to a hotel and beat her. After the hotel’s manager kicked them out for making too much noise, Works drove her to Camp Jordan.
According to an incident report, he then beat her several times by the water and threatened to kill her. He let her go the next morning.
The alleged beating occurred about three months after Judge Jon “Bo” Wood let Works out of jail on his own recognizance in Catoosa County, Ga. Works was supposed to go to trial in a rape case that day. But Clay Fuller, the prosecutor, said some witnesses were not available to testify
Wood pushed the case back to some point this year.
Works was also arrested on rape and kidnapping charges in 2014. But a prosecutor agreed to reduce his charges to a drug offense because she believed the jury might not believe the accuser, who had written love letters to Works in jail.