Columbus man suspected of robbing church now faces sexual assault charges

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man suspected of robbing a Columbus church last spring is now facing sexual assault allegations.

Police responded Thursday morning to a 911 call from a woman on the Northeast Side of the city. According to court documents, police arrived at the home on Forest Village Lane, in the Forest Park East neighborhood, and the woman said that Levonne Chatman, 51, had threatened to kill her with a hammer.

She said Chatman had made her stay up overnight and that when she went to get coffee, he attempted to sexually assault her. She recorded the altercation on her phone up until Chatman allegedly began to strangle her.

Chatman was arrested on charges of kidnapping, attempted rape and strangulation. Officers then connected him to an alleged theft May 10 at the River of Life Church on Refugee Road, on the city's Southeast Side.

Surveillance footage helped to identify Chatman and Dominique Cattledge, 34, as suspects after the two reportedly gained entry to the church and made multiple trips to steal two refrigerators, a freezer, stove, gas grill, charcoal grill and several chairs.

Police tracked the license plate to a stolen truck and identified Chatman and Cattledge as suspects on May 29.

On Friday, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued Chatman a $300,000 bond on rape, kidnapping and strangulation charges, in addition to an $80,000 bond for breaking and entering. The judge also granted a temporary protection order of Chatman for the victim. 

Cattledge has not yet been arrested.