Merriam man sentenced for rape attempt
An 18-year-old Merriam man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 20 years in prison for holding a woman at knife-point and trying to rape her last year.
Clarence D. Hartnell IV was sentenced in Johnson County District Court, where he pleaded guilty in December to charges of aggravated kidnapping and attempted rape.
District Judge Brenda Cameron imposed the sentences consecutively for a combined total of 20 years and seven months.
At Hartnell’s plea hearing, Assistant District Attorney Jason Covington said that Hartnell had contacted the 21-year-old victim through an online escort service ad.
When she arrived at his residence in Merriam last September, Hartnell threatened her with a knife, choked her and attempted to rape her, Covington said.
Hartnell will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison and will be subject to lifetime parole supervision.
Tony Rizzo, trizzo@kcstar.com
This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Merriam man sentenced for rape attempt."