Accused rapist denied bail modification

POLSON -- Lake County District Court Judge Deborah Kim Christopher denied accused rapist, Robert Mathewson a bail reduction.

Defense Attorney Britt Cotter told Christopher that “ the $150,000 bond is unnecessary and punitive.”

POLSON -- Lake County District Court Judge Deborah Kim Christopher denied accused rapist, Robert Mathewson a bail reduction.

Defense Attorney Britt Cotter told Christopher that “ the $150,000 bond is unnecessary and punitive.”

But Christopher disagreed and denied the motion Aug. 14. Attorneys are now submitting arguments generated by the defense to limit or prevent certain evidence from being presented by the prosecution at the trial, according to Lake County Court records.

Mathewson’s saga began June 23 when Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson, Deputy Lake County Attorney filed an affidavit with the court accusing the Lake County man of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, one count of felony aggravated assault and one count of kidnapping.

Mathewson was taken into custody June 24 after he appeared in court to answer the charges.

At the center of the accusations levied against Mathewson is an unnamed woman who arrived at St. Luke’s Community Hospital June 19 with her sister to seek medical attention for a sexual assault she just underwent. Law enforcement officers from Lake County and the Flathead Tribe took reports from the victim who said she was friends with Mathewson, but not romantically involved.

A Lake County Court document authored by the Lake County Prosecuting Attorney’s office alleges that Mathewson took violent repeated unwanted liberties with the victim, choked her into blacking out more than once, and when she tried to escape, court records say Mathewson chased her out of his home and into the yard. The documents claim that after her second escape, the victim was forced to run into the woods, get dressed and walk to a friends house where she would be safe until her sister could come home and transport her to a medical facility.

Mathewson plead not guilty to the charges July 3. His omnibus hearing is schedule for Sept. 4 and his jury trial is schedule for Oct. 14.

Mathewson was incarcertaed in May 2014 and accused of assault with a weapon and assault on a family member and was incarcerated in Lake County Jail.