Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

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October 2, 2009

Accused rapist detained

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- A Buckley man accused of beating and raping a woman inside her home is a "predator" who knew and targeted the victim, police said.

Investigators believe Charles Elmer "Chas" Kovary, 37, was one of three men who entered the woman's Karlin Road residence at about 3 a.m. Tuesday. They allegedly beat her as she lay in bed, and Kovary dragged the woman from the bed and sodomized her, court records show.

The victim had an "acquaintance-based" relationship with Kovary, Grand Traverse Undersheriff Nathan Alger said, and court records indicate she once helped him plan a wedding reception. But the motive for the alleged attack isn't clear.

"We don't know why this woman, but we know ... it was not a random, chance encounter," Alger said. "He knew where she was, he knew who she was, and he went there for that purpose."

Deputies staked out Kovary's Buckley-area home and arrested him without incident shortly after he left his residence Thursday morning. All three men in the home wore disguises, but the woman told police she was "110 percent" sure her attacker was Kovary, based on the sound of his voice.

Police contend Kovary committed the rape and the "overwhelming majority of the physical assault," though they wouldn't say if they're close to identifying or arresting other suspects.

"There's no information that we can give right now that would not compromise our investigation," he said.

Kovary was arraigned Friday morning on two felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and more charges could follow. He's held without bond in the Grand Traverse County Jail.

The woman suffered bruises and a broken nose. She was taken to Munson Medical Center for treatment and has since been released.

Kovary spent about six years in prison after a 1995 home invasion conviction in Grand Traverse County, Michigan Department of Corrections records show. In that incident, Kovary broke into a Traverse City home and attempted to sexually assault a woman, police said.

She awoke to him standing over her with his pants around his knees, and he attempted to silence her by putting his hand on her mouth, police said.

He also has multiple drunken driving, theft, trespass and disorderly person convictions dating back to 1989, police said.

Police worked "around the clock" since the incident to make an arrest and continue the investigation, Sheriff Tom Bensley said, so the arrest was satisfying.

"It's a big deal," Bensley said.

Kovary's preliminary examination, held to determine if there's enough evidence to send the case to trial, is scheduled for Oct. 16.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's department at 995-5152.

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