A 29-year-old man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he was accused of sexually battering his friend while she was asleep in her home.
On Friday, May 17, an MCSO detective responded to an unspecified location in Marion County and made contact with the female victim. She advised that on the morning of Thursday, May 16, her friend, identified as James Hakeem Cajuste, had sexually battered her while she was sleeping, according to the arrest report.
The victim stated that she had missed several days at work due to migraines. Cajuste contacted her on social media to check on her, and he headed over to her home to keep her company. The deputy noted in the report that Cajuste and the victim had engaged in consensual sex several months prior to the incident, though they had both agreed to remain friends.
According to the victim’s statement, Cajuste arrived at her home at around 3:45 a.m. on Friday, and they sat on her bed to watch television. She stated that Cajuste made several attempts to kiss her, and she reminded him that she “only wanted to be friends.”
The victim stated that at around 5 a.m., Cajuste asked if he could spend the night at her home. She told him that he could sleep there “only as friends,” and she soon fell asleep in her bedroom, according to the report.
The victim told the deputy that she woke up to the feeling of Cajuste “inserting his penis” inside of her. She stated that it was painful, and she “never said stop” because she was “in shock.” The incident lasted several minutes, according to the report.
Eventually, the victim and Cajuste both fell asleep, and they woke up to her alarm at around 2 p.m. The victim stated that before leaving her home, Cajuste apologized for “attacking (her) last night.”
The deputy noted in the report that the victim agreed to contact Cajuste on her cellphone, and the call was placed on speakerphone so the deputy could hear it. During that conversation, Cajuste told the victim that he felt “guilty” and “selfish” about what had happened.
Cajuste acknowledged over the phone that the victim had told him that she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. After she had been sleeping for around an hour, Cajuste stated that he “decided to test the waters,” according to the report.
Cajuste apologized multiple times to the victim throughout the phone conversation, and he stated that he “read the situation wrong.”
The report stated that on Friday, May 17, an MCSO deputy spotted Cajuste’s vehicle, and a traffic stop was conducted in the 12000 block of NW Gainesville Road in Reddick. Cajuste was detained in handcuffs and transported to MCSO headquarters for an interview.
After being read his Miranda rights, Cajuste refused to discuss the incident and requested an attorney. He was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
Cajuste is being charged with sexual battery involving physical force not likely to cause serious injury.