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Woman beaten, raped; day laborer is arrested

Authorities say he choked her from behind then pulled her behind a building on Court Street.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published May 28, 2005

CLEARWATER - A day laborer with a lengthy criminal record dragged a 41-year-old woman behind a building on Court Street early Friday and raped her, authorities said.

A person heard the woman's screams for help and called police at 12:47 a.m. Friday. Moments later, when officers arrived in the 1400 block of Court Street, they arrested Keith S. Pinkney, 37, whom investigators described as a transient, according to arrest records. Blood was on his T-shirt, the records state.

Pinkney has been charged with sexual battery, kidnapping and theft. He was being held in Pinellas County Jail on $300,500 bail.

According to police, the Clearwater woman had been walking west on Court to meet a friend when Pinkney choked her from behind and pulled her behind a building. He proceeded to beat and rape her.

Officers found the woman, who said she did not know Pinkney, "beaten and bloody" behind the building, records state. Her cell phone was found in Pinkney's pocket, resulting in the theft charge. Pinkney told investigators the sex was consensual, said Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor.

Shelor said he was unaware of any other similar crimes in the area.

Records show Pinkney has been arrested more than 20 times in Florida since 1993. Charges included aggravated battery, assault, resisting arrest, shoplifting and possession of cocaine.

St. Petersburg police arrested him last week after he failed to appear in court in connection with an aggressive panhandling charge, records show.

Jacob H. Fries can be reached at 445-4156 or jfries@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 28, 2005, 00:09:12]