Rape charges against Bainbridge man dropped

Friday, November 17, 2017

EDITOR'S NOTE: The accuser in this case was later discredited and by an agreement with the state, Walter Pate agreed to plead guilty to Class A misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, with the violent felony charges dropped.


Originally arrested on a preliminary charge of rape, a Bainbridge man has only been formally charged with three lesser offenses.

Walter Lamar Pate Jr., 52, was originally arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and booked in the Putnam County Jail on counts of Level 3 felony rape, Level 6 felony strangulation, Level 6 felony possession of methamphetamine and three Class A misdemeanors — battery, intimidation and interference with the reporting of a crime.

On Nov. 6, the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office filed formal charges against Pate for the two Level 6 felonies, strangulation and possession of methamphetamine, and for Class A misdemeanor battery.

At the time, investigators were continuing to look into the rape charge.

However, earlier this week Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter told the Banner Graphic that further investigation did not reveal enough to pursue a formal rape charge.

On Nov. 6, Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley entered a not-guilty plea on Pate’s behalf and set a jury trial date of April 10, 2018.

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