A McMinnville man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly attempting to sexually assault a family friend.
Christopher Colby Elrod, 29, is charged with criminal attempted rape, after allegedly forcing himself upon the victim at her residence.
According to the arrest warrant filed by McMinnville Police Department Investigator Chris McCormick, on Oct. 4 Elrod went to the victim’s residence to pay back money she had allegedly loaned him and his wife weeks prior. Elrod’s wife remained in their vehicle while he went inside after reportedly receiving the victim’s permission to use the restroom.
Once inside the home, Elrod allegedly asked to see the victim’s breast and other parts of her body, and reportedly attempted to lift her nightgown and asking her to join him in the restroom. When she refused, Elrod allegedly grabbed her by her shoulders and forced her into a back bedroom, throwing her onto the bed and exposing himself before attempting to have intercourse with her.
The victim told officers she was able to fight off Elrod’s advances, at which point he left her residence. Upon speaking to Elrod, officers reported he admitted to being at the residence and had scratches on different parts of his body which were reportedly consistent with the victim’s account of the altercation.
The charge of criminal attempt is defined as:
• Acting with the intent to complete a course of action or cause a result that would constitute the offense;
• The conduct constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the offense;
• The person’s entire course of action is corroborative of the intent to commit the offense.
Rape is a Class B felony in Tennessee, meaning by statute criminal attempted rape is a Class C felony.
Elrod is currently being held at the Warren County Jail under a $200,000 bond. If he is able to post bond, he is ordered to have no contact of any kind with his alleged victim, prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol or other controlled substances, and must wear a GPS monitoring system and pay all costs associated with that device.
Elrod’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 15.
