Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, June 11, 2015
(BLOOMINGTON) - All the charges against 32-year-old Douglas Ryan Sparks have been dismissed without prejudice, which means they could be refiled at a later date.
Sparks is a former Ultimate Fighter nicknamed "Ants in the Pants," according to Yahoo Sports. He proclaimed to be a genius and tried out for the UFC reality show "The Ultimate Fighter."
Last August, Sparks was interviewed by the IndyStar and told a reporter he always wanted to fight. "I was born with an innate drive for violence," Sparks responded.
According to a 24-year-old Ohio woman, who has diminished mental capacity, she saw that violence.
She told police that when she met 32-year-old Douglas Sparks on an online dating site, she moved in with him and was constrained in shackles and handcuffs, sexually assaulted and beaten in Sparks' residence in the 1300 block of South Woodlawn Avenue.
Bloomington police went to the residence in December and say they found the woman naked and scared to leave without permission from Sparks. They arrested him a few days before Christmas on six counts of rape, three counts of criminal confinement with injury, battery with a deadly weapon and one count of theft on accusations he took the woman's car.
Three of the rape charges involved use of force and three related to rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient. Sparks' bond was set at $250,000. He was held in jail until April, when Monroe Circuit Court Judge Marc Kellams lowered his bond to $15,000 surety and $500 cash. Sparks posted the required $2,000 and was released.
Then, on May 28, all charges against Sparks relating to the woman's allegations were dismissed.
Monroe County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Bob Miller said that the office could no longer pursue the case against Sparks because the woman, who has moved out of state, has refused to cooperate with the investigation and prosecution. Miller says the woman's testimony is critical to the case.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.