Hearing date set for Pawhuska kidnapping, rape suspect

A 27-year-old Pawhuska man is scheduled for a July 2 preliminary hearing on charges including kidnapping and rape, all stemming from a series of April incidents involving a former girlfriend.

Christopher Beatty Harris was arrested two days after the events allegedly occurred on April 13 in Pawhuska.

The former girlfriend, a Pawhuska woman, told local police she was abducted from her residence by the suspect.

The woman said Harris entered her home and began hitting and kicking her despite the presence of two men who were visiting her there. She claimed that she was dragged from her residence and taken by Harris to his apartment where she was sexually assaulted while being held captive for more than 10 hours.

After the suspect left, the woman fled the apartment and notified police. She was later taken to an area hospital for medical examination. Results indicated that she had been sexually assaulted, a police affidavit states.

Harris is facing charges of first-degree burglary, as well as domestic assault and battery by strangulation, in connection with the same incident.

Following a May 7 district court hearing before Osage County Special Judge Stuart Tate, the bail amount for the suspect was lowered from $200,000 to $110,000. Harris bonded out of jail two days later, although he remains under house arrest, court records indicate.

An allowance was made by the judge that would permit Harris to return to his job with the Osage Nation.