An Elizabethton man faces a pair of felony charges after police say he forced his way into a woman’s home and sexually assaulted her.
On Wednesday, officers of the Elizabethton Police Department arrested Chad Allen Matherly, 57, of 205 Graham St., on an indictment charging him with one count each of aggravated rape with injury and aggravated burglary. Under state law, aggravated rape is a “Class A” felony while aggravated burglary is a “Class C” felony.
The charges against Matherly stem from an investigation that began on Aug. 14 when a woman reported to police she had been sexually assaulted inside her home by a man she knew.
“The victim reported that she was acquainted with the suspect, identified as Chad Matherly, due to him previously living in the neighborhood,” EPD Capt. Joy Shoun said. “The victim advised that she had contacted Matherly due to mail being received at his former address, and he was advised that he could retrieve the mail, if needed.”
When Matherly arrived at the woman’s home to pick up his mail, the woman told police he asked her if he could come inside and she told him no.
“At that time, Matherly was said to have forced entry into the home through the doorway and raped the victim,” Shoun said.
After completing the investigation, officers presented the details of the case to a Carter County Grand Jury earlier this month. The Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Matherly with aggravated burglary for allegedly forcing his way into the woman’s home and aggravated rape with injury for the alleged assault on the woman.
Following his arrest on Tuesday, Matherly was transported to the Carter County Detention Center where he remains held under a $100,000 bond. Matherly is scheduled to make his first appearance in Carter County Criminal Court on Nov. 23 before Judge Lisa Nidiffer Rice.