A man who traveled from New Jersey last week to Wetumpka for work is now facing a first-degree rape charge.
Franklin Cesare-Hesse, 36, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, arrived in Elmore County on Thursday and was arrested Saturday night following a sexual encounter in Wetumpka.
A woman walked “nearly a mile” to the Wetumpka Police Department to report the incident. When no one was at the department Saturday night she walked home and called 911.
The details of the incident were reported during an Aniah’s Law hearing Wednesday before Elmore County District Court Judge Glen Goggans. Investigator Chase Davis testified Hesse had been communicating with the victim and her brother via social media prior to his interstate travel from the northeast. Hesse was offered a job.
“They were surprised he came,” Davis said.
Hesse had taken a Greyhound bus to the area. When he arrived Thursday, Hesse stayed in a homeless shelter. Friday night he stayed in the victim’s home sleeping on the couch. On Saturday, Hesse was home alone with the victim.
“He went into the bedroom and started to massage and kiss her back,” Davis said. “He pulled down her pants.”
Davis said Hesse held down the victim during intercourse.
Officers described the victim as distraught and upset when they arrived on the scene.
Hesse was on the scene when police arrived and detained prior to Davis’ arrival.
The victim was taken to Montgomery for a sexual assault exam. Purple and red discoloration was described on the victim’s thighs. There was a bite mark on the victim’s back.
Davis interrogated Hesse at the Wetumpka Police Department into the early hours of Easter Sunday. Davis said Hesse reported text messages and social media messages with the victim as being flirtatious.
“(Hesse) stated they had sex and it was consensual," Davis said. “She gave him vibes.”
Davis said the bedroom comforter was slightly in disarray and the bedsheets were still on. Those along with evidence from the sexual assault exam were forwarded to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Hesse gave up his phone to law enforcement. With the help of the Elmore County Sheriff's Office Davis hopes to find more evidence related to the case such as the messages leading up to the alleged rape.
Goggans also heard about Hesse’s past encounters with law enforcement as he traveled back and forth between New Jersey and Pennsylvania with multiple arrests and convictions such as making terroristic threats and aggravated assault.
Davis said law enforcement had been in contact with Hesse’s probation officer in Lawrence County Pennsylvania.
“She had already initiated a probation revocation before this incident,” Davis said.
Hesse has no known connection to the area beyond the victim and the brother and has little to no financial means.
Defense attorney Brandon Stone made the argument a reasonable bond should be set because Hesse didn’t flee. He stayed at the scene and didn’t realize there was an issue until police arrived.
“There may be evidence of consent through the phone,” Stone said. “It is a case of her word against his.”
Goggans denied bond for Hesse.
“I may change my opinion on bond with phone evidence,” Goggans said.
Hesse still has an opportunity for a preliminary hearing where further evidence could be presented.
As of Thursday morning there was no mugshot available.
