Trial continues today in attempted-rape case

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

Opening statements are expected today.

YOUNGSTOWN — The trial for a man accused of holding a woman against her will and attempting to rape her is under way in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

James Duffy, 52, of Sunset Boulevard, is on trial before Judge James C. Evans. Duffy faces two counts of kidnapping, felonious assault and attempted rape.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys spent Monday afternoon trying to select a jury. Jury selection was slated to pick back up today with opening statements by afternoon.

A county grand jury indicted Duffy on the charges in early June. He has been in the county jail on $1 million bond awaiting trial.

According to police, officers responded to Duffy’s South Side home just after 3:30 a.m. May 29. Officers said they were met at the door by a shirtless Duffy, who was zipping up his pants.

Sitting on the floor crying behind Duffy was a 36-year-old Cambridge Avenue woman. The woman immediately began to beg officers for help.

Reports say Duffy told officers that the woman is a “hooker and a crackhead” who broke into his home and tried to rob him for money to buy more drugs.

Reports, however, say he changed the story when officers found no forced entry to the home.

Officers spoke to the woman, who offered a much different account of what transpired inside the home.

The woman told police she stopped at the home earlier in the evening looking for a relative of Duffy’s. The relative was not home, but she accepted an invitation to stay and have a drink.

The woman reportedly told police that Duffy drank 12 beers while she was there, then told her she would not be permitted to leave the home “until you give me what I want.” The woman said she tried to leave, but Duffy punched her three times in the side of the head.

The woman dialed 911, but the phone was snatched away and hung up.

According to reports, Duffy dragged the woman by her hair to a living-room area, then stripped down to his underpants. He began trying to rip off her clothing but was interrupted by police knocking on the door.

jgoodwin@vindy.com