TEXARKANA, Ark. - A man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a woman in a Texarkana, Arkansas, hotel room March 1 after injecting her with methamphetamine had his first court appearance Monday in Miller County.
Michael Justin Birdwell, 43, was arrested by Texarkana, Arkansas, police May 7 for five counts of rape and a single count of introduction of a controlled substance into the body of another. He appeared Monday in court for the first time and his bail was set at $250,000.
Birdwell and a friend allegedly went to a woman's room on the evening of March 1 at the Ramada on State Line Avenue, according to a probable cause affidavit. The woman reported to investigators that Birdwell and his friend injected themselves with methamphetamine and offered to inject her as well.
The woman reported that after Birdwell's friend left the room he attacked her, threw her on the bed and began "ripping" her clothes off of her body. The woman allegedly told detectives she resisted Birdwell but was overpowered. Court records show Birdwell is 6'4 and weighs approximately 260 pounds.
"She explained she was crying and extremely scared," the affidavit states. "She stated she tried to fight Birdwell off but he stated that if she didn't stop fighting he was going to kill her."
Birdwell allegedly slapped the woman during the assault because she did not want to perform a sexual act on him.
"He also bit her, licked her face and spit on her during this assault," the affidavit states.
The woman reportedly changed her clothes before calling police but did not shower. Investigators collected bedding and a used syringe from the hotel room.
Birdwell is currently serving a term of felony probation for breaking and entering, court records show. He pleaded guilty to the offense Feb. 27, just a few days before the alleged sexual assault, and received a two-year term of probation in Miller County.
Officials may file a motion to revoke Birdwell's probation in that case in light of the new charges pending against him. Birdwell is scheduled to appear before a circuit court judge in June.
Each of the counts of rape pending against Birdwell is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Birdwell is currently being held in the Miller County jail. Should he manage to post bond, he has been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.