BRENHAM MAN CONVICTED OF AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT

  

A Brenham man has been convicted of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of assault causing bodily injury- family violence, with a previous conviction.

Christopher James Fielder, 45, of Brenham, was convicted by a jury yesterday (Monday) just before midnight.

Fielder was arrested on March 15, 2015 by officers from the Brenham Police Department.  The victim in this case, known by the protective pseudonym Jane Doe, managed to break a window and escape from Fielder after being assaulted, strangled, and raped in her own home. The two had been dating on and off for a period of weeks, but on March 15, Fielder refused to let her leave her home or call the police, and continually assaulted her for hours.

He was arrested after Jane Doe made it to a neighbor’s home and called the police.  Half an hour later, Fielder was found hiding in a storage shed at a relative’s house a few blocks away from Jane Doe’s home.

Sexual Assault becomes “Aggravated” when the actor, either by acts or threats, places the victim in fear of imminent death, making the charge a first degree felony punishable by 5-99 years, or life.

Fielder strangled and suffocated Jane Doe at least three times placing her in fear of death, to the point that she lost consciousness more than once.

Assault Family Violence with a Previous Conviction is a third degree, punishable by 2-10 years.  In cases where the assault is by impeding blood-flow to the brain or the ability to breathe, the offense is a second degree felony punishable by 2-20 years.  With Fielder’s history, each of those punishment ranges is subject to further enhancement, to 15-99 or life, 2-20, and 5-99 or life, respectively.

Judge Carson Campbell presided over the trial in the 21st District Court.  Assistant District Attorney Lauren Haevischer and District Attorney Julie Renken represented the State at trial, and Arthur Washington, of Houston, represented the Defendant.

While waiting on the verdict, Haevischer commented that Jane Doe "bravely came forward and faced the person who did these terrible things to her.  Regardless of the outcome, her voice was heard.”  Haevischer continued by saying that one can never fully prepare for the toll these cases take, but they remind her why, as a prosecutor, she keeps doing it.

Julie Renken praised all the work done on the case, saying that this was the first midnight verdict of her career. She went on to thank the members of the jury for the hours they gave up to get to the verdicts.  She continued by thanking the Brenham Police Department, saying that without them, they could not have gotten this far and she could not be more proud.

Sentencing by the judge is set for December 1, 2016.