Man accused of raping woman in her Kansas City home after breaking in with gun, boxcutter
A 51-year-old man is accused of invading a home in Kansas City last week and raping a woman as he threatened her with a handgun and boxcutter.
James B. Daniel, of Kansas City, was charged Friday with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, burglary, unlawful firearm possession and two counts of armed criminal action, all felonies, records in Jackson County Circuit Court show.
Authorities also allege he has a previous criminal history that requires him to register as a sex offender, a condition of his parole that he was not following. Daniel was released from prison in 2020 following a 1997 conviction on robbery, armed criminal action and sex abuse charges, court records show.
According to court records, Kansas City police responded July 7 to neighboring Grandview after a traffic cop reported being flagged down by a woman who said she had just been assaulted in her home.
The woman told police officers she was asleep around 3:30 a.m. when she woke to a knock at her front door and opened it. She then saw a man standing there who was pointing a black handgun at her, she told police.
She said the man forced his way inside and began to assault her. She said he put a condom on and raped her, while holding her at gunpoint, and afterward put the gun on the couch to fix his pants, according to a charging document.
The woman said she grabbed the gun and the pair struggled for control of the weapon, saying he held a green-handled knife to her neck at one point. She said she realized the gun was jammed, and he pulled out a red and black boxcutter.
Afterward, the woman told police, the man collected his things, including the used condom. She said he threatened to burn her house down as he was leaving.
The woman then fled the house in her car, without her cellphone, and came upon the officer in Grandview.
The woman was evaluated at a hospital after giving statements to police. Detectives noted she had a bruise that resembled teeth marks on her shoulder. She also reported she bit her attacker on the arm.
Based on information provided by the woman, police focused attention on a home where Daniel was known to stay. They interviewed his female companion, who said she was asleep at the time of the assault and that Daniel was up working late in the garage that night.
Police arrested Daniel as part of the investigation on the afternoon of July 7 in the Northland. He told detectives he went to bed that night somewhere around 2 or 3 a.m.
During the interview, as Daniel was informed that he was being accused of rape, he denied the allegations. When told that his DNA was going to be collected, Daniel allegedly “started licking his hands” and “spit in his hand and put it down his pants” after detectives left the room, authorities allege.
Police also allege Daniel had a mark on his arm that resembled a bite mark.
Police took DNA from Daniel for comparison to a sexual assault kit and other evidence collected. The police crime lab had yet to finish processing that evidence as of Friday, court papers say.
During a separate search of a residence, investigators also reported finding a box underneath a bed containing a Glock handgun along with a green-handled knife and boxcutter.
A warrant for Daniel’s arrest called for him to be held on a $250,000 bond. An initial appearance hearing in the case was held Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court.
An attorney for Daniel was not listed in court records as of Wednesday morning.
This story was originally published July 13, 2022 at 7:33 AM.
