The difference between simple sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault is that the latter causes serious bodily injury to the victim. The 2013 attack for which Pfc. Levi Austin Goss is accused is one of the more horrific sexual assaults to make headlines in recent memory. Goss is currently awaiting extradition to Texas from North Carolina, and his bail is set at one million dollars.
Details of the Crime
According to police, the crime took place in February 2013, when the victim was 16 years old and three years before Goss joined the Armed Forces. Goss, who was wearing a mask, allegedly abducted the victim while she walking by the side of a road in Cypress, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He took her to a wooded area, raped her, and struck her twice with an ax. According to the victim’s statement, Goss only left the scene because he thought the victim was dead. When she was sure he was gone, she walked to a movie theater and asked for help, even though all her clothes had been stolen. Meanwhile, Goss went to a gas station and changed his shirt, leaving behind the blood-stained shirt he had been wearing when he came in. He told the gas station attendant that he had been in a fight.
How Goss Became a Suspect
For several years, the crime went unsolved. Goss joined the Army in 2016, and like all members of the U.S. military, he was required to give a DNA sample to keep on file. As per usual procedure, the Army simply kept his DNA sample on file. It is only when a soldier faces criminal charges that the Army uploads his or her DNA sample to the national database. The Army uploaded the DNA sample from Goss when he became a suspect for a sexual assault that took place in 2017, at which point suspicions also arose about his connection to the 2013 case.
How the Law Regards This Attack
Sexual assault is always a serious matter, but a few factors in the Goss case make it more likely that he will face a harsh penalty. First, the charges are for aggravated sexual assault rather than simple sexual assault. The reasons for this are that Goss used a weapon, in this case an ax, and caused the victim to fear for her life, and that kidnapping was involved. The victim’s age at the time of the attack is also a factor. For many sex-related crimes, the punishments are more severe when the victim is younger than 17.
Contact Madrid Law About Sexual Assault Cases
No matter how horrific the crime, all defendants are presumed innocent until they plead guilty or are found guilty by a jury. A skilled criminal defense lawyer can help defendants prove their innocence and protect them from pressure to plead guilty to crimes worse than what they have actually committed. Contact Madrid Law in Houston to discuss your case if you are facing criminal charges.
