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West Palm man accused of raping woman at Alabama shopping center

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West Palm man accused of raping woman at Alabama shopping center

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A West Palm Beach man charged in connection with a Friday evening sexual assault and robbery at an Alabama shopping center was denied bond after an investigator described the brutality of the alleged crimes.

Isaac Mathis, 29, faces rape, robbery, attempted murder and arson charges in the case, court records show. An Elmore County District ruled in a hearing Monday, Aug. 12 that Mathis be held with no bond. He was charged in connection with the sexual assault on Friday, Aug. 9.

According to testimony, Mathis was released from a Florida jail on Aug. 1 after having served 252 days on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

The attack happened at a business in a shopping center in Prattville, just northwest of Montgomery. Prattville police got the call at 6:07 p.m. Evidence presented at the hearing showed that the victim worked at one of the center’s businesses, and that Mathis allegedly forced her into the back room of the business at closing time, then raped and beat her.

Investigator describes attack

The victim attended the hearing, sitting on the front row of the gallery about 10 feet away from Mathis as he sat at the defense table. Mathis was wearing orange jail clothing and was in handcuffs.

The victim’s face showed bruising and her right hand was bandaged. According to testimony, she was taken to a Birmingham hospital for treatment after the attack, and she had a broken right hand and “extensive” bruising on her face and body.

The victim had a group of about a dozen supporters with her in the courtroom.

Prattville Police Department Investigator Zane Holt was the sole witness called by the state. He testified that the victim told officers Mathis came into the store about closing time, browsed and asked for price checks on several items. When the victim went to the back of the store on one of the price check requests, he allegedly pushed an object into her back and forced her into a back room, Holt testified.

Mathis allegedly told the victim the object in her back was a gun. The victim told investigators Mathis allegedly told her “… not to yell or scream, or he would shoot her,” Holt said.

She told investigators she was raped and that Mathis allegedly strangled her several times, beat her, kicked her, punched her, struck her with a microwave oven and that she lost consciousness several times during the attack. Mathis also allegedly poured a caustic chemical over the victim’s face, scalp and in her mouth, Holt told the court.

When she regained consciousness, she went to a nearby store for help and that’s when the call to police was made. She was able to give responding officers a physical description of Mathis including what clothing he was wearing, Holt said.

During the investigation, officers found out that Mathis had allegedly robbed the business after the attack, making off with the night deposit, and allegedly attempted to set fire to the store, Holt said.

Assistant District Attorney Mandy Johnson told the judge that Mathis has an “extensive criminal record” in Florida, including seven felony convictions as an adult for armed burglary, armed carjacking, robbery and grand theft of vehicle. He also had a history of probation violations, she said.

In November 2023, he was charged with assault and felon in possession of a firearm. The assault charge was dropped, and Mathis served 252 days on the firearms possession charge, Johnson said.

Investigators have not been able to establish a connection between Mathis and Prattville, Holt testified.

More West Palm Beach news:

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

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