Man released from prison jailed for rape

Coley is back in jail about a week after being freed under state's early release program

A Mobile man who was released March 28 under Alabama's early release program is back behind bars after being accused of raping, sodomizing and assaulting a female in Atmore.

Ronald Gregory Coley, 34, 207 Hillcrest Road, was charged with rape I, sodomy I, domestic violence assault II, domestic violence strangulation and interfering with a domestic violence emergency call.

Atmore police reported it was notified April 8 of a sexual assault victim being treated for injuries at a hospital in Mobile. The Atmore investigator contacted the victim who told the investigator that Coley and she had driven to Atmore the evening before. She said once they arrived in Atmore Coley became enraged and dragged her into a wooded lot and physically and sexually assaulted her. The victim ran from the scene and drove herself back to Mobile.

Reports noted the victim suffered three broken ribs and had severe bruising to her neck, arms, legs and abdomen. Court records state Coley is accused of kicking the victim in the abdomen, breaking her ribs.

He's also accused of choking and punching the victim while forcing the victim to have sex. He is also accused of throwing the victim's cell phone into the woods as the assault began.

Atmore investigators worked with officers from the Chickasaw Police Department to arrest Coley on April 11. He was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.

When Coley showed up for a bond hearing Wednesday, April 12, he began to scream and cuss and District Judge Eric Coale had officers remove him from the courtroom and take him back to jail.

During a bond hearing on April 13, District Attorney Steve Billy asked for no bond due to Coley's violent past, noting he still has assault cases pending in Mobile.

"Based on his history, we ask for no bond," Billy said.

Billy noted Coley was on probation and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on domestic violence charges on March 8, 2021 but was released under the mandatory release program on March 28, 2023.

Billy noted Coley had an assault II and felon in possession of a firearm still pending in Mobile.

Judge Coale ordered Coley to be held on no bond and set a pretrial diversion hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday, April 19.

After taking a seat in the courtroom April 13, Coley made hand motions like he was shooting a gun toward Billy and a bailiff. The bailiff yelled for him to quit and Judge Coale ordered Coley removed from the courtroom. The bailiff then grabbed his arm to lead him out of the courtroom and Coley called the bailiff a "white cracker".

"Did you see how he grabbed me?" Coley yelled. "Can I elbow him in the face?" he continued as he was escorted out of the courtroom.

 
 
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