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Man Who Got April Plea Bargain Faces New Attack Charge

Eight days after Billy Trapp was released from jail on a reduced charge that he had attacked a woman, the homeless man was back before a judge Monday facing new rape-related charges.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Eight days after Billy Trapp was released from jail on a reduced charge that he had attacked a woman, the homeless man was back before a judge Monday facing new rape-related charges.

This time, investigators said Trapp, 45, attacked a 17-year-old jogger near Edna Metz Wells Park on Friday around 6 a.m.

During his court appearance, prosecutors said Trapp cut her with a box cutter and tried to rape her. He is charged with first-degree kidnapping, attempted first-degree rape, misdemeanor assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting and delaying an officer and attempted damage to personal property.

Trapp was being held on $2 million cash bond.

Two months ago, police picked him up Trapp in connection with a similar crime.

Police reports indicate that on April 4, officers charged him with raping a homeless woman on Tucker Street.

Prosecutor Adam Moyers offered him a plea deal to the lesser charge of "assault on a female," and Trapp was released from jail May 31 with credit for 58 days of time served.

“I did what I felt was the appropriate thing based on the evidence and based on my experience and based on the law in North Carolina,” Moyers says.

He wouldn't elaborate, but statements in court indicated that prosecutors didn't feel the evidence in the April case was strong enough to get a conviction at trial.

A criminal record check showed that Trapp’s criminal history goes back 27 years. His rap sheet shows mostly convictions for break-ins and thefts.

He has been convicted for assaulting a female, but it was a case from 1982.

A 1990 charge of attempted rape was dismissed.

“We all have to weigh the evidence and the information that’s given to us,” said Wake County Superior Court Judge Michael Morgan.

Morgan approved the plea deal in the April case.

Morgan would not comment directly on Trapp's case, but he said courts can only rule on the information that is before them.

“None of us has a crystal ball. All we can do is the best we can under the facts and circumstances relayed to us,” Morgan added.

Because of the April case, prosecutors asked for and received a higher bond than normal for the current charges.

Police say the 17-year-old escaped without serious injury. Trapp’s next court date is July 2.

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