By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Two Ellis County residents face rape and other charges related to an incident in March 2021.
According to court records, Michael Patrick Schmidt, 22, and Casey Ray Robben, 22, appeared in Ellis County District Court this week after an arrest warrant was issued for both men on Nov. 7.
In the filed criminal complaints, Robben was charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and breach of privacy.
Schmidt was charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy.
The charges stem from an incident alleged to have occurred on March 17, 2021.
During the incident, the unidentified victim was said to have been assaulted by both men while intoxicated and unable to offer consent, according to court documents.
Robben also allegedly filmed the victim in a state of undress and is accused of sharing that video without consent.
Schmidt was also charged on suspicion of rape in a second incident reported to have occurred with a separate unidentified victim on August 12, 2021.
Bond for Schmidt was set at $100,000, and he was no longer listed as being held in the Ellis County jail as of Thursday morning.
A hearing to reduce a $250,000 bond for Robben was set for 10 a.m. Thursday. The motion was presented through his attorney Andrew Walter and sought his release without a bond but under the supervision of a court services officer.