Kentucky man accused of sexually assaulting Iowa City woman in car

A Kentucky man is accused of sexually assaulting an Iowa City woman in his car Sunday after taking her phone away, ignoring her pleas to stop and covering her mouth and pinching her nose to stop her from breathing until she “felt as if she was going to die.”

Herithier Ekyamba, 22, of Louisville, was charged Monday with third-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and false imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor. According to a criminal complaint, Ekyamba contacted the woman, who was an acquaintance, when he arrived Sunday in Iowa City. He agreed to take her to the store but, instead, pulled into a parking lot, got on top of her and held her down.

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She tried to get away, but then Ekyamba started taking off her clothes, tearing a button on her pants, the complaint stated. He slammed her head into the roof area of the car and sexually assaulted her. When he moved off her, she got out of the car but he followed her. At some point, she was able to call 911 and Ekyamba fled in his car.

The woman took a photo of Ekyamba’s license plate and officers stopped him a short time later, the complaint said. Officers said the woman had an injury to the face.

Ekyamba, during an interview with police, denied having any woman in his vehicle while in Iowa City, the complaint stated. He did have a red scratch or welt on his cheek that appeared to be new, but said it was from playing soccer the day before.

A magistrate ordered a $20,000 bail for Ekyamba, during his initial appearance on Monday. He remained Tuesday in the Johnson County Jail.

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