Baltimore guard has rape, police impersonation charges nixed

BALTIMORE – A grand jury has declined to indict a Baltimore security guard accused of impersonating a police officer to stop a sexual assault and then raping the victim himself.

State’s Attorney Office spokeswoman Melba Saunders told The Baltimore Sun that the grand jury’s decision required prosecutors drop the case against 50-year-old Richard S. Barnes.

Police records say the victim told officers that she was being sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver when Barnes approached and identified himself as a police officer. She said she left the Lyft and got into Barnes’ car, where she was taken to an unidentified location and raped. The Lyft driver hasn’t been charged.

Barnes’ attorney, James Rhodes, says Barnes and the woman had consensual sex that she “clearly” regretted. Rhodes says they may sue the woman.

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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com