Suspect in sexual assaults tells Eyewitness News he's innocent

(10/18/07 - KTRK/RICHMOND, TX) (KTRK) -- He was out of jail for less than two days after being locked up for an alleged sexual assault when police say the man attacked two more women in Ft. Bend County.

We have an exclusive interview with that man, now back behind bars, and reaction from the community. Ronald Geathers was released from jail on Monday and was arrested again on Wednesday.

Wearing shackles on his ankles and handcuffs on his wrists, Geathers says he's an innocent man

"Guilty of what?" he asked. "I didn't do anything to anybody. I mean, they got me unlawfully detained."

But Richmond police say otherwise. In July, his bond was set at $50,000 upon his arrest for sexual assault. But last week, prosecutors agreed to reduce his bond to just $5,000. Geathers says the DA's evidence in that case is not as strong as prosecutors first thought.

After his release from jail Monday, police say on Tuesday night, he attempted to sexually assault a woman at the Lamar Park apartments on FM 1640, the very apartment complex where he lives.

Those living there are infuriated he would be allowed out of custody to even have the chance.

"I feel like he needs to be locked up," said a resident who didn't want to be identified. "He needs to stay there."

While police were investigating the allegations at the apartments, they got a call about another attempted sexual assault in north Richmond in the 800 block of Maiden Lane. There, they say, they found Geathers and a woman, who says he attacked her.

"It's scary to think that someone can get out like that and come right around and do the same thing," said Sgt. Lowell Neinast with the Richmond Police Department.

Geathers says he paid a woman there to buy him cigarettes and beer. He claims she ripped him off and he was just trying to get his money back.

He denies any wrongdoing, despite the fact that the women at each location identified him as the man who attacked them.

"I'm innocent before proven guilty," Geathers told us. "I did none of this stuff. Anyone can say anything and go to jail."

Geathers remains in jail with bond set at $75,000.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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