Lang
7/16/23
A Kentucky man is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Iowa City Saturday night.
22-year-old Herithier Ekyamba of Louisville was booked into the Johnson County Jail just before 3am Sunday. Iowa City Police say Ekyamba contacted a female acquaintance when he arrived in Iowa City this weekend. Around 9:00 Saturday night the woman asked Ekyamba to give her a ride to the store. He instead reportedly drove her to an empty parking lot. When the woman asked why he stopped there he allegedly grabbed her cellphone and hid it behind his body. Police say he then began strangling her as he tried to sexually assault her. The woman said she resisted and called out for help, but Ekyamba covered her mouth and continued the assault.
The woman was eventually able to free herself and exit the vehicle. She told police Ekyamba followed her until she called 9-1-1, at which time he fled in his vehicle. The woman gave police the license plate information, and Ekyamba was eventually taken into custody.
Ekyamba reportedly told police he hadn’t had any females inside his car since he got to Iowa City. Investigators say they noticed a red scratch and welt on his cheek that appeared to be recent. He claimed he did it playing soccer.
Ekyamba is charged with 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse and False Imprisonment. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of 11 years in prison.