Kidnap-rape suspect stays calm in court appearance

A Tullahoma man's second appearance before a Circuit Court judge took place without incident one month after he was slapped with contempt charges for walking away from the judge's questioning.

James Lynne Stewart, 51, of South Anderson Street was indicted last month by the Bedford County grand jury on charges of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, aggravated assault and theft over $500 in connection with an alleged incident in 2002.

Stewart had his next court date set for Aug. 17 by Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler, when Stewart will make a decision on whether he will make a plea or have a date set for a jury trial.

But Stewart already faces 20 days in jail for contempt after making contemptuous remarks and walking away from Crigler's questioning about his legal representation during his arraignment in June.

Stewart is being held at Bedford County Jail under $190,000 bond. According to warrants filed in General Sessions Court, Stewart allegedly raped a woman in her vehicle on Aug. 16, 2002, in Bedford County.

The warrant read that "during this confinement, he (Stewart) did assault the victim and she did suffer serious bodily injury. Her left check was fractured and also did require three stitches and also required a stitch in her nose."

The warrant stated the victim "also had bruising, cuts and scrapes all about her head area."

The vehicle was allegedly taken from the victim in the Normandy area and found abandoned in the Bi-Lo parking lot in Tullahoma the next day by Tullahoma police, the warrants allege. The warrant for aggravated rape alleges that another man was involved but did not name him.