After being ordered by a judge to stay away from a woman's apartment, Timothy L. Betha instead broke in, wrecked the place, waited for her, held her at gunpoint, beat her up and then took her up Big Cottonwood Canyon and raped her, according to charges filed in court.
Five felony counts - aggravated sexual assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and criminal mischief - were filed Monday in 3rd Circuit Court against Betha, 35, stemming from the Wednesday incident.Just 10 days prior to the attack, 3rd District Judge Tyrone E. Medley ordered Betha to stay away from the woman, who suffered a concussion, contusions, lacerations and a fractured nose in the assault Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Betha jimmied the deadbolt to the woman's Cottonwood Heights apartment and slashed her couches, pillows, bedspread and clothing. When she returned home, Betha allegedly grabbed her neck from behind and held her at gunpoint.
Betha then allegedly told her to take her clothes off and go into the bedroom, but she instead went into the bathroom, grabbed a can of pepper mace and sprayed him. Betha pointed the gun at her and then fired a shot into the bathroom door, according to the charges.
Investigators say he then wrestled the woman to the ground and choked and hit her. The woman ran into the living room, but Betha grabbed her and beat her with the butt of the gun in the face, court documents state.
Prosecutors say Betha then dragged the woman out of the apartment and down cement stairs, forced her into a Jeep and kept her there for six hours. He then drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon and raped her, according to the charges.
Betha then took the victim to an area hospital emergency room. He was arrested later the same day and is in the Salt Lake County Jail. Bail is set at $500,000.