A Washington, Ark., man who allegedly used a knife to cut off part of a woman’s clothing and rape her in a Nashville, Ark., motel will go on trial March 17.

Phillip Wayne Jefferson, 45, recently pleaded innocent in Howard County Circuit Court to rape, a Class Y felony. The charge, filed Nov. 21, carries a potential sentence of 10 to 40 years or life in prison.

Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Ted Capeheart scheduled a trial date for March 17. The pretrial hearing will be March 11 in the Howard County Courthouse.

The alleged rape occurred Nov. 7 at the Holiday M...

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