(By Angela Reinhardt, Pickens Progress) — An Ellijay man has been arrested for allegedly holding a 24-year-old woman against her will in a west Pickens mobile home and forcing her to engage in sexual acts.
According to Pickens Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Hannah Wise, authorities were alerted to the incident by a family member of the victim. The victim had been texting the family member from the trailer at 131 Robinson Road where she was being held by Daniel Staton, 52, Wise said. Through texts, the victim told the family member that she was being forced to stay in a dilapidated, dirty mobile home with deer carcasses on the front porch, that Staton was “sexually aggressive,” and that there were firearms and drugs in the residence.
Wise said the trailer is a kind of squatters home where people stay for a few weeks at a time and hang out. The trailer is not owned by Staton.
The victim, from Dallas, Ga., told authorities Staton would not allow her to consume food or water for two days, that she was forced to engage in sexual acts on a daily basis, and that he would consume illegal narcotics in front of her.
The PIO said the victim, whose name is not being released, was brought to Jasper by family members to stay with either family or friends, and at some point met up with Staton who offered her a place to live. The exact nature of their relationship is not known at this time, but there were some brief communications between the victim and Staton before she came to Jasper.
The victim first arrived at the mobile home Oct. 20, but it is not clear if she was staying there or being held against her will the entire time until authorities were alerted Nov. 8. It is also not clear how she was being forced to stay in the trailer against her will.
Deputies responded to allegations of sexually aggressive behavior and false imprisonment Nov. 8, and did report finding several deer legs and firearms at the residence. According to the PIO, Staton saw deputies pull up on the property on Robinson Road and fled the scene, but they returned the following day and he was taken into custody. Staton was originally taken into custody for warrants that were out for his arrest from Ellijay for family violence, then later charged with rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment and probation violation.
The victim was transported to Piedmont Mountainside Hospital for a medical evaluation.
Staton is still in custody at the Pickens County Adult Detention Center at this time.