Registered sex offender is charged with Kansas City rape
Authorities on Friday accused a registered sex offender of raping a Kansas City woman last month.
Jackson County prosecutors charged 44-year-old Joel L. Farris with one count of first-degree rape. He was being held in jail on a $125,000 cash bond.
The victim told police that she was getting into her car outside a home in the 3300 block of Jackson Avenue on April 23 when Farris walked up, grabbed her by her hair and dragged her into the house, according to court documents.
Inside, the attacker punched the woman in the face, choked her and threatened her with a knife before raping her, court documents say.
When questioned Thursday, Farris denied raping the woman but told police that he accidentally gave her a black eye in April.
Farris is listed on the Missouri sex offender registry for a 2000 sexual abuse conviction in Jackson County.
To reach Tony Rizzo, call 816-234-4435 or send email to trizzo@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published May 15, 2015 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Registered sex offender is charged with Kansas City rape."