Fla. professor accused of drugging, raping housecleaner
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A Florida International University business professor is accused of drugging and raping his housekeeper, and police say a surveillance camera in his southwest Florida home captured the assault, reports CBS Miami.
An attorney for Dr. David Ralston, 69, said they plan to ask for a reasonable bond at his appearance before a judge Friday. Ralston is charged with sexual assault on a helpless victim.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Ralston hired the woman in April to clean his Ft. Myers home after finding her on Craigslist.
On April 29th, the housekeeper was cleaning his home when Ralston reportedly offered her a drink.
"The victim accepted a drink from Mr. Ralston," said U.S. Marshal Barry Golden. "Approximately 30 minutes later the victim became very disoriented and was almost incoherent, almost unconscious."
Lee County detectives say the woman attempted to push Ralston away, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
The woman told investigators she then passed out for a period of time. She not conscious when the alleged rape occurred.
After she reported the assault, police got a warrant to search Ralston's home. Inside they found a video from the home's security system that captured the sexual assault, according to Ralston's arrest report.
Detectives reportedly contacted Ralston and his attorney and, for more than a month, tried to get him to surrender. Police say he refused.
"It's obvious Mr. Ralston basically thumbed his nose at law enforcement and at these charges," said Goldman.
During the course of their investigation, detectives learned that Ralston also owned a home in Weston, about 120 miles east of Ft. Meyers and 20 miles west of Ft. Lauderdale. Working with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement surveillance was set up on the home.
Ralston was taken into custody Thursday by U.S. Marshals who tracked him to a Weston hotel.
FIU released the following statement on learning of Ralston's arrest:
"We are aware that FIU business professor David Ralston has been arrested this morning. He was last at the University at the conclusion of the Spring Semester and has no summer assignment."
Ralston's attorney in Ft. Meyers said in an email that he client was "...was absolutely not running from a warrant. He was waiting for the warrant to come out to self surrender. Before the issuance of the warrant had been communicated to his attorney the Marshals executed it."
After Ralston appears in court in Ft. Lauderdale, he'll be returned to Lee County for prosecution.