New Castle Man Charged with Rape

New Castle – A New Castle man was arrested yesterday after detectives linked him to a rape that occurred earlier this week.

The incident occurred on June 17 at approximately 5:15 a.m. when the victim, a 25-year-old woman, was picked up by a man, later identified as James Daniels, 20, of New Castle, at the Super Fuel, 3006 New Castle Avenue. Daniels drove to victim to a secluded area by the C&D Canal, where he paid her to perform a sex act, but, when the victim ended the act, he punched her several times.

The victim ran from the vehicle but Daniels chased after her, caught her, and forced her back into the vehicle. He forced the victim to disrobe, struck her with a baseball bat, and sexually assaulted her. The victim was eventually able to escape from the vehicle and Daniels drove away with her belongings.

Troop 2 detectives linked Daniels to the rape and on June 20 the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team arrested Daniels at his residence. Daniels was transported to Troop 2 and charged with rape first degree, robbery first degree, and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He was committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institute on $220,000 secured bail.